Inhibition of glutamine synthetase in the mouse kidney: a novel mechanism of adaptation to metabolic acidosis

As part of a study on the regulation of renal ammoniagenesis in the mouse kidney, we investigated the effect of chronic metabolic acidosis on glutamine synthesis by isolated mouse renal proximal tubules. The results obtained reveal that, in tubules from control mice, glutamine synthesis occurred at high rates from glutamate and proline and, to a lesser extent, from ornithine, alanine, and aspartate. A 48 h, metabolic acidosis caused a marked inhibition of glutamine synthesis from near-physiological concentrations of both alanine and proline that were avidly metabolized by the tubules; metabolic acidosis also greatly stimulated glutamine utilization and metabolism. These effects were accompanied by a large increase (i) in alanine, proline, and glutamine gluconeogenesis and (ii) in ammonia accumulation from proline and glutamine. In the renal cortex of acidotic mice, the activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase increased 4-fold, but that of glutamate dehydrogenase did not change; in contrast with what is known in the rat renal cortex, metabolic acidosis markedly diminished the glutamine synthetase activity and protein level, but not the glutamine synthetase mRNA level in the mouse renal cortex. These results strongly suggest that, in the mouse kidney, glutamine synthetase is an important regulatory component of the availability of the ammonium ions to be excreted for defending systemic acid-base balance. Furthermore, they show that, in rodents, the regulation of renal glutamine synthetase is species-specific.     

Importance of medullary events in ammonium excretion: studies in acute respiratory and acute metabolic acidosis

The renal medulla can play an important role in acid excretion by modulating both hydrogen ion secretion in the medullary collecting duct and the medullary PNH3. The purpose of these experiments was to characterize the intrarenal events associated with ammonium excretion in acute acidosis. Cortical events were monitored in two ways: first, the rates of glutamine extraction and ammoniagenesis were assessed by measuring arteriovenous differences and the rate of renal blood flow; second, the biochemical response of the ammoniagenesis pathway was examined by measuring glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate, key renal cortical metabolites in this pathway. There were no significant differences noted in any of these cortical parameters between acute respiratory and metabolic acidosis. Despite a comparable twofold rise in ammonium excretion in both cases, the urine pH, PNH3, and the urine minus blood PCO2 difference (U-B PCO2) were lower during acute hypercapnia. In these experiments, the urine PCO2 was 34 mmHg (1 mmHg = 133.322 Pa) lower than that of the blood during acute respiratory acidosis while the U-B PCO2 was 5 +/- 3 mmHg in acute metabolic acidosis. Thus there were significant differences in medullary events during these two conditions. Although the urine pH is critical in determining ammonium excretion in certain circumstances, these results suggest that regional variations in the medullary PNH3 can modify this relationship.     

Effect of the blood lactate concentration on renal glutamine metabolism in dogs with chronic metabolic acidosis

It appears that glutamine and lactate are the principal substrates for the kidney in dogs with chronic metabolic acidosis. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to determine if a higher or lower rate of renal lactate extraction would influence the rate of glutamine extraction at a constant rate of renal ATP turnover. The blood lactate concentration was 0.9 +/- 0.01 mM in 15 acidotic dogs. However, eight dogs with chronic metabolic acidosis had a spontaneous blood lactate concentration of 0.5 mM or lower. The kidneys of these dogs extracted considerably less lactate from the arterial blood (19 vs. 62 mumol/100 mL glomerular filtration rate (GFR]. Nevertheless, glutamine, alanine, citrate, and ammonium metabolism were not significantly different in these two groups of dogs. Renal ATP balance in acidotic dogs with a low blood lactate could only be achieved if a substrate other than additional glutamine were oxidized in that segment of the nephron which normally oxidized lactate; presumably a fat-derived substrate and (or) lactate derived from glucose was now the metabolic fuel at these more distal sites. When the blood lactate concentration was greater than 1.9 mM, lactate extraction rose to 219 mumol/100 mL GFR. Glutamine, alanine, citrate, and ammonium metabolism were again unchanged; in this case, ATP balance required substrate flux to products other than carbon dioxide, presumably, gluconeogenesis. It appears that renal ammoniagenesis is a proximal event and is independent of the rate of renal lactate extraction.     

Cellular and molecular basis of increased ammoniagenesis in potassium deprivation

Hypokalemia is associated with increased ammoniagenesis and stimulation of net acid excretion by the kidney in both humans and experimental animals. The molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unknown. Toward this end, rats were placed in metabolic cages and fed a control or K(+)-deficient diet (KD) for up to 6 days. Rats subjected to KD showed normal acid-base status and serum electrolytes composition. Interestingly, urinary NH(4)(+) excretion increased significantly and correlated with a parallel decrease in urine K(+) excretion in KD vs. control animals. Molecular studies showed a specific upregulation of the glutamine transporter SN1, which correlated with the upregulation of glutaminase (GA), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. These effects occurred as early as day 2 of KD. Rats subjected to a combined KD and 280 mM NH(4)Cl loading (to induce metabolic acidosis) for 2 days showed an additive increase in NH(4)(+) excretion along with an additive increment in the expression levels of ammoniagenic enzymes GA and GDH compared with KD or NH(4)Cl loading alone. The incubation of cultured proximal tubule cells NRK 52E or LLC-PK(1) in low-K(+) medium did not affect NH(4)(+) production and did not alter the expression of SN1, GA, or GDH in NRK cells. These results demonstrate that K(+) deprivation stimulates ammoniagenesis through a coordinated upregulation of glutamine transporter SN1 and ammoniagenesis enzymes. This effect is developed before the onset of hypokalemia. The signaling pathway mediating these events is likely independent of KD-induced intracellular acidosis. Finally, the correlation between increased NH(4)(+) production and decreased K(+) excretion indicate that NH(4)(+) synthesis and transport likely play an important role in renal K(+) conservation during hypokalemia.     

Brain glutamate metabolism during metabolic alkalosis and acidosis.

Glutamate modifies ventilation by altering neural excitability centrally. Metabolic acid-base perturbations may also alter cerebral glutamate metabolism locally and thus affect ventilation. Therefore, the effect of metabolic acid-base perturbations on central nervous system glutamate metabolism was studied in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs under normal acid-base conditions and during isocapnic metabolic alkalosis and acidosis. Cerebrospinal fluid transfer rates of radiotracer [13N]ammonia and of [13N]glutamine synthesized de novo via the reaction glutamate+NH3-->glutamine in brain glia were measured during normal acid-base conditions and after 90 min of acute isocapnic metabolic alkalosis and acidosis. Cerebrospinal fluid [13N]ammonia and [13N]glutamine transfer rates decreased in metabolic acidosis. Maximal glial glutamine efflux rate jm equals 85.6 +/- 9.5 (SE) mumol.l-1 x min-1 in all animals. No difference in jm was observed in metabolic alkalosis or acidosis. Mean cerebral cortical glutamate concentration was significantly lower in acidosis [7.01 +/- 0.45 (SE) mumol/g brain tissue] and tended to be larger in alkalosis, compared with 7.97 +/- 0.89 mumol/g in normal acid-base conditions. There was a similar change in cerebral cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration. Within the limits of the present method and measurements, the results suggest that acute metabolic acidosis but not alkalosis reduces glial glutamine efflux, corresponding to changes in cerebral cortical glutamate metabolism. These results suggest that glutamatergic mechanisms may contribute to central respiratory control in metabolic acidosis.     

The effects of fluorocitrate on renal glutamine, lactate, alanine, and oxygen metabolism in the dog

Acid-base status is considered the major factor controlling renal NH4+ production from glutamine, with maximal values found in chronic acidosis. However, metabolic inhibitors have been shown to increase NH4+ production without acid-base change; the mechanism for this increase is unclear. Fluorocitrate was administered to dogs with chronic metabolic alkalosis. Following fluorocitrate total renal NH4+ production rose from 32 +/- 5 to 104 +/- 15 mumol/(min.100 mL glomerular filtration rate (GFR] (p less than 0.01) and glutamine extraction rose from 26 +/- 8 to 65 +/- 8 mumol/(min.100 mL GFR) (p less than 0.01). These values approximate maximal values found in chronic acidosis. Lactate utilization fell from 165 +/- 19 to 99 +/- 7 mumol/(min.100 mL GFR) following fluorocitrate (p less than 0.01). Citrate extraction fell to zero and alanine production rose from 27 +/- 4 to 46 +/- 7 mumol/(min.100 mL GFR) (p less than 0.01). Oxygen consumption remained unchanged following fluorocitrate, 584 +/- 29 vs. 549 +/- 29 mumol/(min.100 mL GFR). These results demonstrate that in the presence of metabolic inhibition in the kidney, ATP production remains constant. This is achieved by increased utilization of one substrate, glutamine, when the ATP production from other substrates is reduced. Thus the necessity to maintain constant ATP production appears to modulate renal NH4+ production.     

Nutritional interrelationships of electrolytes and amino acids

Evidence for interactions between amino acid and electrolyte metabolism is reviewed. Variations in dietary sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations affect acid-base balance and also influence the severity of the lysine-arginine antagonism. High dietary levels of Na and K salts of metabolizable organic acids alleviate, whereas excessive dietary chloride exacerbates, the antagonism. Potassium deficiency causes depletion of intracellular potassium and increased intracellular accumulation of basic amino acids. These variations in electrolytes, which alter acid-base balance, also influence the metabolism of glutamic acid and the excretion of nitrogen. It is hypothesized that basic amino acids as well as glutamic acid and glutamine may have an important role in metabolic regulation of acid-base balance.     

Mitochondrial aquaporin-8 in renal proximal tubule cells: evidence for a role in the response to metabolic acidosis

Mitochondrial ammonia synthesis in proximal tubules and its urinary excretion are key components of the renal response to maintain acid-base balance during metabolic acidosis. Since aquaporin-8 (AQP8) facilitates transport of ammonia and is localized in inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) of renal proximal cells, we hypothesized that AQP8-facilitated mitochondrial ammonia transport in these cells plays a role in the response to acidosis. We evaluated whether mitochondrial AQP8 (mtAQP8) knockdown by RNA interference is able to impair ammonia excretion in the human renal proximal tubule cell line, HK-2. By RT-PCR and immunoblotting, we found that AQP8 is expressed in these cells and is localized in IMM. HK-2 cells were transfected with short-interfering RNA targeting human AQP8. After 48 h, the levels of mtAQP8 protein decreased by 53% (P < 0.05). mtAQP8 knockdown decreased the rate of ammonia released into culture medium in cells grown at pH 7.4 (-31%, P < 0.05) as well as in cells exposed to acid (-90%, P < 0.05). We also evaluated mtAQP8 protein expression in HK-2 cells exposed to acidic medium. After 48 h, upregulation of mtAQP8 (+74%, P < 0.05) was observed, together with higher ammonia excretion rate (+73%, P < 0.05). In vivo studies in NH(4)Cl-loaded rats showed that mtAQP8 protein expression was also upregulated after 7 days of acidosis in renal cortex (+51%, P < 0.05). These data suggest that mtAQP8 plays an important role in the adaptive response of proximal tubule to acidosis possibly facilitating mitochondrial ammonia transport.     

The metabolic response of the kidney to acute sodium lactate alkalosis

In vivo studies were performed in the dog to verify if sodium lactate had an important effect on the metabolism of glutamine by the kidney. The animals were infused with 0.6 M sodium lactate to induce acute metabolic alkalosis with plasma bicarbonate of 29.7 mM. During these experiments, it was demonstrated that the renal uptake of glutamine increased by 46%, while the renal production of ammonia was unchanged. The renal production of alanine rose from 6.0 to 16.8 mumol/min. Plasma concentration of lactate increased from 1.3 to 19.2 mM, while that of pyruvate increased from 0.075 to 0.454 mM. In the renal tissue, alpha-ketoglutarate, malate, oxaloacetate, lactate, pyruvate, citrate, and alanine increased significantly. Similar changes were found in the liver and skeletal muscle. The observed changes are best described by transamination of pyruvate and glutamate under the influence of alanine aminotransferase (GPT). It can be calculated that this reaction was responsible for 76% of the production of ammonia from glutamine, the latter being necessary to provide glutamate for the synthesis of alanine. Dogs infused with 0.3 M sodium bicarbonate instead of sodium lactate with the same degree of acute metabolic alkalosis, showed a depression of 40% in the renal uptake of glutamine with a 38% decrease in renal ammoniagenesis and a 20% fall in the production of alanine. The present studies demonstrate that the production of ammonia from glutamine is not necessarily related to changes in acid-base balance, but may be associated with biochemical alterations related to the synthesis of alanine by the kidney.     

Metabolism of glutamine and glutamate by rat renal tubules. Study with 15N and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to study the metabolism of [15N]glutamate, [2-15N]glutamine, and [5-15N]glutamine in isolated renal tubules prepared from control and chronically acidotic rats. The main purpose was to determine the nitrogen sources utilized by the kidney in various acid-base states for ammoniagenesis. Incubations were performed in the presence of 2.5 mM 15N-labeled glutamine or glutamate. Experiments with [5-15N]glutamine showed that in control animals approximately 90% of ammonia nitrogen was derived from 5-N of glutamine versus 60% in renal tubules from acidotic rats. Experiments with [2-15N]glutamine or [15N]glutamate indicated that in chronic acidosis approximately 30% of ammonia nitrogen was derived either from 2-N of glutamine or glutamate-N by the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase. Flux through glutamate dehydrogenase was 6-fold higher in chronic acidosis versus control. No 15NH3 could be detected in renal tubules from control rats when [2-15N]glutamine was the substrate. The rates of 15N transfer to other amino acids and to the 6-amino groups of the adenine nucleotides were significantly higher in normal renal tubules versus those from chronically acidotic rats. In tubules from chronically acidotic rats, 15N abundance in 15NH3 and the rate of 15NH3 appearance were significantly higher than that of either the 6-amino group of adenine nucleotides or the 15N-amino acids studied. The data indicate that glutamate dehydrogenase activity rather than glutamate transamination is primarily responsible for augmented ammoniagenesis in chronic acidosis. The contribution of the purine nucleotide cycle to ammonia formation appears to be unimportant in renal tubules from chronically acidotic rats.     

Acid-base balance and plasma glutamine concentration in man

Plasma glutamine concentrations were measured in chronic metabolic acidosis and alkalosis in healthy male volunteers. Metabolic acidosis resulted in a significant drop in glutamine concentration while metabolic alkalosis significantly elevated glutamine levels. These changes in glutamine concentration correlated with both the bicarbonate and PCO2 levels. To determine whether bicarbonate or PCO2 levels influence the glutamine concentrations, respectively acidosis was induced by respiring 5% CO2. This resulted in a significant elevation in both PCO2 and glutamine while bicarbonate levels remained unchanged. The results demonstrate an effect of acid-base alterations upon plasma glutamine concentration mediated by PCO2.     

Energy turnover and the production of ammonium by the kidney: effect of hypernatremia.

The purpose of this study was to explore further the relation between the rates of oxygen consumption and ammonium (NH4+) production in the kidney during chronic metabolic acidosis. The experimental model was the dog with chronic metabolic acidosis because of the extensive background literature in this species. Chronic metabolic acidosis was produced by the ingestion of 10 mmol NH4Cl/kg body weight for 5 days. There was a significant increase in the rate of oxygen extraction when hypernatremia was present. Despite this rise in the rate of oxygen consumption, there was no increase in the rate of NH4+ production nor in the rate of glutamine extraction. These data suggest that hypernatremia might prevent a further augmentation in glutamine extraction when the rate of oxygen consumption rises. In addition, a larger proportion of the NH4+ produced was excreted in the urine during hypernatremia. This increase was associated with a rise in the urine flow rate, but not with a fall in urine pH.     

Role of hippurate in acidosis induced adaptation in renal gamma-glutamyltransferase

Metabolic acidosis results in an adaptation in renal γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) and a doubling of hippurate excretion. The greater rate of γ-glutamohydroxamate, γ-GHA, formation from L-glutamine, but not from glutathione, by acidotic kidney homogenates suggest an increased γ-glutamyl-enzyme complex formation and a preference for glutamine as the γ-glutamyl donor in acidosis. Hippurate added $\text{in}$$\text{vitro}$ to cortical homogenates or microsomes mimics the affect of acidosis upon γ-GHA formation from glutamine. Acid extracts of urine stimulated ammonia formation from glutamine using cortical microsomes in agreement with the measured hippurate levels. Administering an exogenous hippurate load to fasting nonacidotic rats doubled ammonia excretion and the rate of γ-GHA formation by cortical homogenates. These results are consistent with the acidosis induced adaptation in renal γ-GT governed by hippurate.     

Characteristics of glutamine metabolism by rat kidney tubules: a carbon and nitrogen balance.

The metabolism of glutamine by a suspension of rat kidney tubules was studied in vitro. The influence of duration of incubation, glutamine concentration, and metabolic state of the donor animals was investigated. The relative importance of glucose synthesis, amino acid production, and oxidation to CO2 was estimated by drawing a complete balance of the nitrogens and the carbon chains of the extracted glutamine. It was found that the initial (first 15 min) rate of glutamine utilization was significantly greater than the subsequent rate due to an initial, but transient, extracellular accumulation of glutamate. This phenomenon was suppressed when a small amount of glutamate was added to the incubation medium. Glucose production constitutes the major fate for glutamine metabolism. No net oxidation of glutamine could be detected with 1 mM glutamine during the first 30 min. However, glutamine oxidation becomes significant after prolonged incubation (16% at 120 min). The metabolic fate of glutamine differs when 5 or 10 mM are presented to the tubules, glutamate production and oxidation to CO2 becoming more important. Metabolic acidosis or a 48-h fast increases glutamine extraction and enhances its utilization glucose synthesis while they depress glutamate accumulation and oxidation to CO2. Metabolic alkalosis has the opposite effect. It is concluded that the metabolism of glutamine in vitro is dependent on the conditions of the study. Furthermore, total oxidation to CO2 is not a major fate for glutamine metabolism at physiological concentration and is not enhanced by acidosis in the rat kidney in vitro.     

The regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) synthesis in rat kidney cortex. The role of acid-base balance and glucocorticoids.

The effects of metabolic acidosis and of hormones on the activity, synthesis, and degradation of renal cytosolic P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) (EC 4.1.1.32) were studied in the rat using isotopic -immunochemical procedures. At normal acid-base balance, the synthesis of the enzyme accounted for between 2 and 3.5% of the synthesis of all soluble protein in the kidney cortex. P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis was selectively stimulated in acute metabolic acidosis, so that the relative rate of synthesis of the enzyme was increased to 7% 13 hours after oral administration of ammonium chloride. The stimulation of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis preceded any increase in the assayable activity of the enzyme. The administration of sodium bicarbonate to acutely acidotic rats returned the rate of enzyme synthesis to normal in 8 hours. The effect of acidosis on both the synthesis and the activity of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase was prevented by actinomycin D, cordycepin, and cycloheximide. The degradation in vivo of pulse-labeled P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase was not affected by acidosis. Thus, the stimulation of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis is the major mechanism for the increase in the level of the enzyme observed in metabolic acidosis. The administration of glucocorticoid triamcinolone resulted in an increase in the relative rate of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis and a commensurate increase in the activity of the enzyme in the renal cortex. Both changes were abolished by actinomycin D. Fasting was characterized by a high enzyme activity and a rapid rate of enzyme synthesis in the kidney cortex. This high rate of synthesis was reduced after the administration of sodium bicarbonate, but not after glucose feeding. Moreover, the injection of insulin to diabetic rats did not repress P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis in the renal cortex. Theophylline plus N-6, 0-2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate stimulated P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis in the kidney of intact rats. However, the latter effect was probably due to glucocorticoid secretion, since it did not occur in adrenalectomized animals. The administration of parathyroid extracts did not result in the induction of the enzyme. Thus, the hormonal regulation of cytosolic P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase synthesis in the kidney differs markedly from that in the liver.     

HOMEOSTATIC ADJUSTMENTS AFTER EXERCISE : I. ACID-BASE EQUILIBRIUM OF THE BLOOD

The rate at which displacement and recovery of the acid-base equilibrium of the blood occur in young adult males subjected to short periods of maximal exertion has been determined. Displacement of acid-base equilibrium produced by severe exercise is along the fixed acid path, similar to the path of displacement produced by ingestion of acidifying agents such as ammonium chloride. Maximum displacement of the acid-base equilibrium is not reached until 7 to 10 minutes after the cessation of exercise. By this time over 50 per cent of the displacement in oxygen consumption, respiratory volume, and blood pressure have disappeared. A much greater metabolic acidosis was produced by exercise than could be induced by the oral administration of ammonium chloride. Recovery from the metabolic acidosis produced by exercise was much more rapid (10 times) than was recovery from the acidosis produced by ammonium chloride. After exercise the pH, returned to normal values more rapidly than did the bicarbonate content of the serum.     

Glutaminase II Pathway in Human Kidney

THE principal mechanism whereby excess hydrogen ions are excreted in man is by renal production of ammonia and subsequent urinary excretion as ammonium. The major and direct source of this renal ammoniagenesis is glutamine¹. Two distinct metabolic pathways of glutamine metabolism have been demonstrated in rat, guinea-pig and dog. The intramitochondrial glutaminase I isoenzymes which hydrolyse glutamine to ammonia and glutamic acid and its subsequent deamidation to ammonia and 2-oxo-glutarate constitute the major metabolic route in the rat². The extramitochondrial glutamine-aminotransferase-ω-amidase pathway (glutaminase II), however, has been shown to be important in the dog³. In man, whereas the glutaminase I pathway has been demonstrated⁴ there is no direct evidence for the latter metabolic pathway. We investigated this metabolic pathway using the alkyl substituted glutamine, L-γ-glutamylmethylamide. In contrast to glutamine, this substituted compound on deamidation yields methylamine⁵.     

Acidotic alterations in oxidative metabolism influencing rat renal slice ammoniagenesis

We believe that two findings are interconnected and help to comprehend a major mechanism behind the regulation of renal ammonia production during acidosis. First, slices from acidotic compared to control and alkalotic rats produce more ammonia from glutamine. Second, inhibition of renal oxidative metabolism at various points by metabolic inhibitors augments slice ammoniagenesis. Based on this, our purpose was to determine whether enhanced renal ammoniagenesis during acidosis could occur through the same mechanism as the metabolic inhibitors. However, metabolic inhibitors (malonate; arsenite; 2,4-dinitrophenol) usually decrease while acidosis increases slice gluconeogenesis. There is one known exception. Fluorocitrate, which blocks citrate metabolism, simulates the acidotic condition by enhancing both ammonia and glucose production. Accordingly, a block of oxidative metabolism if located prior to citrate oxidation in the tricarboxylic acid cycle could theoretically augment ammoniagenesis during acidosis. Lactate, is a major renal fuel whose oxidative metabolism would be blocked by fluorocitrate. There, we concentrated on the effects of acidosis on lactate as well as glutamine metabolism. Lactate decarboxylation decreases in the face of increased glucose production during acidosis, and lactate inhibition of glutamine decarboxylation decreases in slices from acidotic rats. Also, we found lesser oxygen consumption in the presence of lactate by kidney slices from acidotic rats compared to control and alkalotic rats. We postulate that relatively less incorporation of lactate into the TCA cycle, causing decreased citrate formation and citrate oxidation during acidosis, contributes, at least in part, to acidotic adaptation of ammoniagenesis.     

Role of sodium on H+ excretion in the integument of the leopard frog Rana pipiens

1. The northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, pipiens, in contrast to the southern leopard frog, Rana pipiens, berlandieri, did not demonstrate any significant H+ excretion across its integument even during a challenge of chronic metabolic acidosis. Likewise, no increase in the number of H+ secreting mitochondria-rich cells were observed in the northern frogs. 2. Under normal acid-base conditions in the southern frogs, H+ excretion was found to be dependent on mucosal sodium concentrations, whereas during chronic metabolic acidosis, H+ excretion was independent of mucosal sodium concentrations, but was amiloride sensitive. 3. High salinity adapted southern frogs, under normal and acidotic conditions, had enhanced H+ excretion rates as compared to the control non-salt adapted frogs. 4. Blood analyses demonstrated that significant acid-base changes were the result of systemic acidosis and not due to salt adaptations. Blood Na+ and K+ concentrations were also efficiently maintained during salt adaptations or chronic metabolic acidosis. 5. The results suggest that H+ excretion in epithelia can be influenced by the sodium transport state of the cell and the systemic acid-base profile. Models are proposed explaining these relationships.