Localization of parathyroid-hormone-independent sodium bicarbonate inhibition of tubular phosphate reabsorption. We investigated phosphate transport along superficial nephrons in two groups of acutely parathyroidectomized (APTX) rats. Animals of group 1 were infused with 0.5 M sodium chloride; and those of group 2, with 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate at the same rates. Compared to the sodium chloride infusion, the sodium bicarbonate infusion was associated with a significant increase in urinary excretion of phosphate: the fractional phosphate excretion was 2.3 ± (SD) 1.3% in the sodium chloride group and 14.4 ± 3.2% in the sodium bicarbonate group, P < 0.01, whereas the fractional sodium excretion was identical, 7.4 ± 0.60% and 7.5 ± 0.50%. Micro...