Maturation of Renal Organic Acid Transport: Substrate Stimulation by Penicillin

Abstract
Renal p-aminohippurate transport in rabbits increased rapidly from birth to 4 weeks of age and then declined to that observed in adults. Penicillin administration to pregnant does or newborn rabbits stimulated the developing transport system, but did not increase the peak observed at 4 weeks. Therefore the continued presence of substrate (penicillin) during development significantly enhances the rate of maturation.