By means of the infusion of small amounts of sodium sulphate it has been possible to elevate the filtered load of inorganic phosphate to the renal tubule in fasted dogs without the administration of exogenous phosphate. Under these circumstances, the reabsorption of phosphate remains virtually complete, even when filtered loads are reached which result in a substantial phosphaturia when phosphate has been administered. By comparing phosphate reabsorption and excretion in fasted animals, and in animals at various intervals after feeding, the existence of homeostatic adjustments in the renal tubular transport of inorganic phosphate has been demonstrated. The available evidence suggests that the intracellular disposition of phosphate itself may be an important factor in determining the rate of renal tubular phosphate transport at filtered loads in the physiological range. The limitations of the determination of the phosphate "Tm" as a device for studying homeostatic processes have been discussed.
On the inhibition of the transport of inorganic phosphate by N
-ethylmaleimide
