Renal mechanism for excretion and transformation of arsenic in the dog

Abstract

Studies have been performed in female dogs on the renal tubular transport of arsenate and arsenite and on the intrarenal conversion of arsenate to arsenite. During the infusion of arsenate there is a net reabsorption of arsenate and a net secretion of arsenite. The rate of arsenite secretion varies directly with the rate of arsenate reabsorption. The transport of both ions is inhibited by phosphate and glucose. Renal arteriovenous concentration differences show a net production of arsenite from arsenate. Stop-flow studies localize the major site of arsenic transport in the proximal tubule. During arsenite infusion both arsenate and arsenite undergo net reabsorption. The data are interpreted as representative of a tubular reabsorption of arsenate with intracellular conversion of arsenate to arsenite and subsequent diffusion of arsenite across both luminal and antiluminal faces of the tubular cell.