Relationship between dietary Na+ intake, aldosterone and colonic amiloride-sensitive Na+ transport

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Abstract
The effect of changes in dietary Na+ intake on plasma aldosterone levels and electrogenic amiloride-sensitive Na+ transport (I amil) was studied in the rat distal colon. Five groups of rats were fed on diets containing different amounts of Na+. Estimated Na+ intake ranged from about 400–80000 ?equiv Na+ /kg body weight (BW) per d. Both variables investigated, I amil and plasma aldosterone, depended non-linearly on Na+ intake. Reduction of the daily Na+ intake increased plasma aldosterone levels and if these levels reached the value 200 pg/ml or more then I amil was induced. The corresponding Na+ intake was 1300 ?equiv Na+/kg BW per d. I amil was not observed at lower aldosterone levels and higher Na+ intakes. Aldosterone infusion for 7 d produced similar changes in I amil compared with dietary Na+-depleted animals and made the estimation of maximum transport capacity of I amil possible. We conclude that I amil operates only if Na+ intake decreases below minimal Na+ requirement in growing rats and that the maximum transport capacity of this pathway is reached only after very severe Na+ deprivation.