The response of the kidney of the freshwater rainbow trout to true metabolic acidosis.

Infusion of lactic acid into the bloodstream of trout produced a short-lived depression of blood pH and a long-lasting elevation of blood lactate. The lactate injected was distributed in a volume of 198 ml/kg. Renal excretion of lactate anion and total acid increased by approximately equal amounts during the period of high blood lactate levels, but total renal loss over 72 h accounted for only 2% of the lactate load and 6% of the proton load. Comparable differences in the time courses of blood lactate and pH changes occurred when lactacidosis was induced endogenously by normocapnic hypoxia. The immediate response of the kidney was similar to that with lactic acid infusion, but there was a long-lasting (12-72 + h) elevation of urinary acid efflux that was not associated with lactate excretion. Following hypoxia, renal excretion over 72 h accounted for 1% of the estimated lactate load and 12-25% of the proton load. A renal lactate threshold of 4-10 muequiv/ml prevents significant urinary lactate excretion. The response of the trout kidney to true metabolic acidosis is similar to that of the mammalian kidney.