Renal chloride reabsorption

In renal physiology, renal chloride reabsorption refers to the process by which the kidneys, having filtered out waste products from the blood to be excreted as urine, re-absorb chloride ions (Cl⁻) from the waste.

Overview table

Characteristics of Cl⁻ reabsorption

Characteristic	proximal tubule			loop of Henle			Distal convoluted tubule	Collecting duct system
	S1	S2	S3	descending limb	thin ascending limb	thick ascending limb		connecting tubule	initial collecting tubule	cortical collecting ducts	medullary collecting ducts
reabsorption (%)
reabsorption (mmoles/day)
Concentration (mM)	115[1]		135[1]
electrical driving force (mV)	−3[2]		+3[2]			+15[2]	−5 to +5[2]			−40[2]
chemical driving force (mV)
electrochemical driving force (mV)	(positive) [3]
apical transport proteins	(passively)[3]		Cl-formate exchanger Cl-oxalate exchanger Cl−-OH− exchanger			Na-K-2Cl cotransporter[1]	Na-Cl cotransporter[1]			principal cells: paracellularily[1]
basolateral transport proteins			chloride channels[1] Cl-K cotransporter[1] Cl−/HCO3− exchanger			chloride channels[1]	chloride channels[1]			chloride channels β intercalated cells: Cl−HCO3− exchanger[1]
Other reabsorption features