Epithelial magnesium transport and regulation by the kidney.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and the second most common cation in the intracellular fluid. It is the kidney that provides the most sensitive control for magnesium balance. About a 80% of the total serum magnesium is ultrafilterable through the glomerular membrane. In all of the mammalian species studied to date, the proximal tubule of the adult animal reabsorbs only a small fraction, 10-15%, of the filtered magnesium. Unlike the adult proximal convoluted tubule that of young rats (aged 13-15 days) reabsorbs 50-60% of filtered magnesium along the proximal tubule together with sodium, calcium, and water. Micropuncture experiments, in every species studied to date, indicates that a large part (approximately 60%) of the filtered magnesium is reabsorbed in the loop of Henle. Magnesium reabsorption in the loop occurs within the cortical thick ascending limb (cTAL) by passive means driven by the transepithelial voltage through the paracellular pathway. Micropuncture experiments have clearly showed that the superficial distal tubule reabsorbs significant amounts of magnesium. Unlike the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle, magnesium reabsorption in the distal tubule is transcellular and active in nature. Many hormones and nonhormonal factors influence renal magnesium reabsorption to variable extent in the cTAL and distal tubule. Moreover, nonhormonal factors may have important implications on hormonal controls of renal magnesium conservation. Dietary magnesium restriction leads to renal magnesium conservation with diminished urinary magnesium excretion. Adaptation of magnesium transport with dietary magnesium restriction occurs in both the cTAL and distal tubule. Elevation of plasma magnesium or calcium concentration inhibits magnesium and calcium reabsorption leading to hypermagnesiuria and hypercalciuria. The identification of an extracellular Ca2+/Mg2+ -sensing receptor located on the peritubular side of cTAL and distal tubule cells explains this phenomenon. Loop diuretics, such as furosemide and bumetanide, diminish salt absorption in the cTAL whereas the distally acting diuretics, amiloride and chlorothiazide stimulate magnesium reabsorption within the distal convoluted tubule. Finally, metabolic acidosis, potassium depletion or phosphate restriction can diminish magnesium reabsorption within the loop and distal tubule. Research in the 90's have greatly contributed to our understanding of renal magnesium handling.

Cellular adaptation of the mouse cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (CTAL) to dietary magnesium restriction: enhanced transepithelial Mg2+ and Ca2+ transport.

Mice aged 4 or 8 weeks were fed with a low-Mg2+ diet for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days. After 1 day of diet, the urinary excretion of Mg2+ and Ca2+ was strongly reduced in both animal groups (4 and 8 weeks), accompanied by a significant fall in plasma Mg2+ concentration and an increase in urinary volume. This profile persisted after 2, 3 or 4 days of dietary Mg2+ restriction. After 1 day of diet, transepithelial ion net fluxes of Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ (JNa' JCI, JCl, JMg) measured in vitro from isolated perfused cortical thick ascending limbs (CTALs) of these animals remained unchanged. After 2 days of diet, measurements of J(Ca) and J(Mg) in isolated perfused CTALs showed that transepithelial Mg2+ and Ca2+ reabsorption were enhanced in CTALs from Mg(2+)-depleted, 8-week-old animals, whereas transepithelial Mg2+ and Ca2+ transport were not altered in 4-week-old mice. JNa and JCl and the transepithelial potential (PDte) were not modified in CTALs from either animal group. Our results suggest that a low-Mg2+ diet leads to urinary retention of Mg2+ and Ca2+ which is most likely due to increased Mg2+ and Ca2+ transport in the CTAL. Furthermore, in response to dietary Mg2+ restriction, the reabsorption of divalent cations in the CTAL of adult, but not of young, mice undergoes cellular adaptation.

Effects of water balance, diet and antidiuretic-hormone administration on the renal excretion of water.

Enuresis is the result of multifactorial processes. Enuretic patients often exhibit an abnormal diurnal rhythm of plasma vasopressin in addition to high nocturnal urine production. Renal function is considered to be a core factor in influencing the volume of fluid delivered to the bladder. Animal studies have suggested that the amount of fluid delivered to the bladder is dependent upon the state of hydration and/or the amount of protein present in the animal's diet. The state of hydration, or diuresis, may also influence the permeability of the terminal collecting ducts to water and urea and the hydro-osmotic response of the kidney to desmopressin. Multiple agents, including vasopressin, glucagon, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, beta-adrenergic agonist, insulin, angiotensin II, prostaglandins and calcium and magnesium ions influence sodium transport in the thick ascending limb, indicating that all of these factors may potentially play a role in enuresis.

A Ba(2+)-insensitive K+ conductance in the basolateral membrane of rabbit cortical thick ascending limb cells.

The nature of the K+ exit across the basolateral membrane of microperfused rabbit cortical thick ascending limbs (cTALs) was investigated using the transepithelial and transmembrane potential difference (PDte, PDbl) and conductance measurements. An increase in bath K+ concentration from 4 to 10, 25, 50 mmol/l depolarized the basolateral membrane in a concentration-dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease in the fractional resistance of the basolateral membrane (FRbl). The Cl- channel blocker, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropyl-amino)-benzoic acid (NPPB), did not prevent these effects. The effect of Ba2+ on PDbl was bimodally distributed: paradoxically, in the tubules in which Ba2+ largely depolarized, the effects on PDbl of the bath K+ concentration increases were not inhibited by extracellular Ba2+, in tubules in which Ba2+ moderately depolarized, Ba2+ partially inhibited the K+ concentration increase-induced depolarization of the basolateral membrane. However, the parallel decrease in FRbl was Ba2+ insensitive, indicating that the K+ channel of the basolateral membrane was not modified by extracellular Ba2+. The Ba(2+)-induced depolarizations were prevented by furosemide suggesting that Ba2+ acts by inhibiting basolateral KCl extrusion. Finally, the K+ concentration increase-induced depolarizations were insensitive to tetraethylammonium, charybdotoxin, apamin and verapamil. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence that, in addition to a Ba(2+)-sensitive KCl cotransport system, the basolateral membrane of rabbit cTAL cells possesses a K+ conductance which is insensitive to extracellular Ba2+.

Calcium and magnesium transport in the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop: influence of age and gender.

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that Ca2+ and Mg2+ absorption in the mouse cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (cTAL) is a passive, paracellular process driven by the transepithelial voltage. The passive permeability of the epithelium is enhanced by peptide hormones. The present study investigated whether divalent cation absorption in the cTAL is influenced by cell maturation and/or gender. For this purpose, mouse cTAL segments were microdissected from kidneys of female and male animals aged 4 and 8 weeks. The microdissected tubules were perfused in vitro at a luminal flow rate of 1.5 to 2.5 nl/min. Transepithelial Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+ net fluxes (JX, pmol.min-1.mm-1) were measured using electron microprobe analysis, and the transepithelial potential difference (PDte) was measured continuously. No differences were found in the PDte, JNa and JCl of the various animal groups but the transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport capacity of the cTAL was higher in adults (8 weeks) than in young animals (4 weeks). Furthermore, irrespective of age, transepithelial Ca2+ net absorption was greater in male than in female animals. In contrast, the NaCl transport was maximal at 4 weeks in both genders. We conclude therefore that transepithelial divalent cation absorption in the mouse cTAL is an inductive process influenced by cell maturation and gender. The molecular basis of these inductions remains to be elucidated.

Calcitonin stimulates H+ secretion in rat kidney intercalated cells.

Calcitonin (CT) modulates rat intercalated cell (IC) functions of the rat cortical collecting duct (CCD) [E. Siga, B. Mandon, N. Roinel, and C. de Rouffignac. Am.J. Physiol. 264 (Renal Fluid Electrolyte Physiol. 33): F221-F227, 1993]. To characterize the specific function regulated by CT, rat CCDs were perfused in vitro. Total CO2 net fluxes (JtCO2, pmol.mm-1.min-1) and transepithelial voltage (Vt) were measured. Bath CT induced a significant tCO2 reabsorption. This effect was higher on CCDs harvested from acid-loaded than from control rats. When HCO3- secretion was blocked, CT also raised JtCO2 and Vt. When H+ secretion was blocked, CT was ineffective on JtCO2 and Vt. When HCO3- secretion was increased and H+ secretion was inhibited, CT did not change JtCO2, whereas isoproterenol (ISO) increased tCO2 secretion from -13.5 +/- 2.0 (control) to -19.0 +/- 2.4 (ISO). In rat CCD studied under these same preceding conditions plus luminal amiloride to block the Na(+)-dependent Vt, CT did not alter Vt, whereas ISO increased it by 4.5 +/- 0.7 mV. We conclude from these data that, in the rat CCD, calcitonin stimulates H+ secretion, likely by so-called alpha-intercalated (alpha-IC) cells, whereas ISO stimulates HCO3- secretion, likely by so-called beta-IC cells.

Calcium and magnesium: low passive permeability and tubular secretion in the mouse medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (MTAL).

Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that in the mouse and rat nephron Ca2+ and Mg2+ are not reabsorbed in the medullary part of the thick ascending limb (mTAL) of Henle's loop. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the absence of transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport in the mouse mTAL is due to its relative low permeability to divalent cations. For this purpose, transepithelial ion net fluxes were measured by electron probe analysis in isolated perfused mouse mTAL segments, when the transepithelial potential difference (PDte.) was varied by chemical voltage clamp, during active NaCl transport inhibition by luminal furosemide. The results show that transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ net fluxes in the mTAL are not driven by the transepithelial PDte. At zero voltage, a small but significant net secretion of Ca2+ into the tubular lumen was observed. With a high lumen-positive PDte generated by creating a transepithelial bath-to-lumen NaCl concentration gradient, no Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption was noted; instead significant and sustained Ca2+ and Mg2+ net secretion occurred. When a lumen-positive PDte was generated in the absence of apical furosemide, but in the presence of a transepithelial bath-to-lumen NaCl concentration gradient, a huge Ca2+ net secretion and a lesser Mg2+ net secretion, not modified by ADH, were observed. Replacement of Na+ by K+ in the lumen perfusate induced, in the absence of PDte changes, important but reversible net secretions of Ca2+ and Mg2+. In conclusion, our results indicate that the passive permeability of the mouse mTAL to divalent cations is very low and not influenced by ADH. This nephron segment can secrete Ca2+ and Mg2+ into the luminal fluid under conditions which elicit large lumen-positive transepithelial potential differences. Given the impermeability of this epithelium to Ca2+ and Mg2+, the secretory processes would appear to be of cellular origin.

Multihormonal regulation of nephron epithelia: achieved through combinational mode?

The kidney is the main organ regulating composition of body fluids. A considerable number of hormones control the activity of renal cells to maintain hydromineral equilibrium. It becomes more and more difficult to interpret this multihormonal control in terms of regulatory processes. To illustrate this complexity, the hormonal regulation of electrolyte transport in the nephron thick ascending limb is taken as an example. This nephron segment is largely responsible for two kidney functions: the urinary-concentrating ability (by its capacity to deliver hypertonic sodium chloride into the medullary interstitium) and regulation of magnesium excretion into final urine. Six hormones are presently identified as acting on the transport of both sodium chloride and magnesium ions in this nephron segment. Therefore, the pertinent question is how the thick ascending limb and, hence, the kidney, is capable of regulating water balance independently from magnesium balance. It is proposed that the hormones act in combination: circulating levels of the individual hormones acting on these cells may determine the configuration of the paracellular and transcellular transport pathways of the epithelium either in the "sodium" or "magnesium" mode. The configuration would depend on the distribution and activity of the receptor at the surface of the basolateral membrane in contact with the circulating hormones. This distribution along with stimulation of respective signal transduction pathways would lead to the final biological effects. It is already known that the distribution of cell receptors may vary according to factors such as age, nutritional variability, hormonal status, degree of desensitization of the receptors, etc. The modulation of hormonal responses would depend therefore on the degree of coupling of hormone-receptor complexes to different intracellular transduction pathways and on the resulting negative and/or positive interactions between these pathways.

Arachidonic acid inhibits hormone-stimulated cAMP accumulation in the medullary thick ascending limb of the rat kidney by a mechanism sensitive to pertussis toxin.

The possible regulation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation by arachidonic acid (AA) was studied in segments, microdissected from the rat kidney, which are sensitive to arginine vasopressin (AVP). In the presence of 5 microM indomethacin, the addition of 5 microM AA did not impair AVP-dependent cAMP accumulation (measured during 4 min at 35 degrees C) in the cortical or outer medullary collecting tubule, but decreased this response in the thick ascending limb with an inhibition much more pronounced in the medullary portion (MTAL) than in the cortical portion. In MTAL, the response to 10 nM AVP was inhibited by 34.4 +/- 9.6% (SEM) and 65.8 +/- 5.4% with 1 microM and 5 microM AA, respectively, N = 5 experiments. AVP-, glucagon- and calcitonin-sensitive cAMP levels in MTAL were inhibited by 5 microM AA to a similar extent. AA-induced inhibition was unaffected by the presence of inhibitors of AA metabolism: (1) either 10 microM indomethacin or 50 microM ibuprofen added to all media; (2) a 10-min pre-incubation and a 4-min incubation of MTAL samples with 10 microM eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetrayonic acid, (3) a 1-h preincubation with either 30 microM SKF-525A, 20 microM ketoconazole, or 20 microM nordihydroguariaretic acid. In contrast to AA, 11 other saturated or unsaturated fatty acids had no inhibitory effect on the AVP-dependent cAMP level. In fura-2-loaded MTAL samples, AA induced a slow increase of the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) which reached 21.0 +/- 3.8 nM and 92.9 +/- 21.4 nM over basal values (n = 11) at 2 min and 4 min, respectively, after the beginning of the superfusion of 5 microM AA. AA-induced inhibition of AVP-dependent cAMP accumulation was due neither to the increase in [Ca2+]i elicited by AA, nor to an activation of protein kinase C because this inhibition: (1) was not blocked when MTAL samples were incubated either in zero Ca2+ medium, or in the presence of 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) to chelate [Ca2+]i, and (2) it was not reproduced by a pre-treatment of MTAL segments with a phorbol ester. Pre-incubation of MTAL (6 h at 35 degrees C) with 500 ng/ml pertussis toxin (PTX) prevented AA-induced inhibition: in the presence of PTX inhibition was 24.7 +/- 6.6% vs 10 nM AVP, as compared to 81.6 +/- 4.0% in control groups, i.e in the absence of PTX, N = 6.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Molecular analysis of vasopressin receptors in the rat nephron. Evidence for alternative splicing of the V2 receptor.

Expression and regulation of vasopressin V2 and V1a receptors were studied at the mRNA level in the rat kidney. Two V2 mRNA variants were identified and shown to arise from a single gene by alternative splicing using one donor and two different acceptor sites. The long (V2L) form encodes the adenylyl cyclase-coupled receptor. The short (V2S) form lacks the nucleotide sequence encoding the putative seventh transmembrane domain and undergoes a frame shift in its 3'end coding region; it is inactive on the cyclase pathway in transfected cells. Measurement of mRNAs, carried out by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on microdissected nephrons, demonstrated that neither V2L, V2S nor V1A mRNAs are expressed in glomeruli and proximal tubules (< 100 mRNA copies/glomerulus or mm of tubular length), whereas they are present in the ascending limb of Henle's loop and in the collecting tubule. The V2L mRNA, which is always predominant in these structures, is expressed throughout the collecting tubule at 10 times higher levels (30,000 copies/mm) than in the thin and thick ascending limbs. The ratio of the V2S over V2L mRNA is constant (15%) in all nephron segments; hence high V2S levels are only observed in the collecting tubule. The V1A mRNA is slightly expressed in the thin ascending limb, absent in the thick ascending limb and reaches its maximum in the cortical collecting duct (4,000 copies/mm), before gradually decreasing to undetectable levels in the terminal collecting duct. Finally, in vivo administration of a vasopressin V2 agonist decreased by 50% V2L and V2S mRNAs, but did not alter the V1A mRNA level. We conclude that this study provides the quantitation, on a molar basis, of vasopressin receptor mRNAs in kidney tubules and demonstrates the occurrence of two V2 mRNA spliced variants which are similarly down-regulated.

Renal magnesium handling and its hormonal control.

Our understanding of renal Mg handling has been expanded in recent years with the use of electron probe, ultramicroanalysis, and fluorescent dye techniques to determine total Mg and free Mg2+ in individual tubule segments and cells, respectively. Recent studies have shown that [Mg2+]i is a highly mobile cation that may be altered by a number of influences including hormones. It is likely that the hormonal changes in [Mg2+]i, reported here and elsewhere, are involved in intracellular metabolism and regulation rather than transepithelial transport. The role of intracellular Mg2+ in control of cell function is poorly understood. However, it is evident that [Mg2+]i may be rapidly charged through a number of different influences that may have important effects on cell function. These kinds of data have enlarged our understanding of Mg conservation by the renal tubule but have posed many questions for further study. Magnesium is handled in different ways along the nephron. About 80% of the total plasma Mg (1.5-2.0 mM) is ultrafilterable across the glomerular membrane. Of the ultrafilterable Mg (1.2-1.6 mM), only 20-25% is reabsorbed by the proximal tubule, including the convoluted and straight portions. This is in contrast to Na and Ca reabsorption, which amounts to approximately 70 and 60%, respectively, in the proximal nephron. Accordingly, the fractional delivery of Mg to the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle is much greater than that of Na or Ca. It is now evident from micropuncture studies that proportionally greater amounts of Mg (50-60%) are reabsorbed in the loop compared with Na (20-25%) or Ca (30-35%). Because the terminal nephron segments, including the DCT and collecting tubule, reabsorb only a small portion of the filtered Mg (approximately 5%), the loop of Henle plays a major role in the determination of Mg reabsorption, and it is in this segment that the major regulatory factors act to maintain Mg balance. Magnesium reabsorption in the thick ascending limb takes place in the cortical segments, at least in the mouse and rat. Evidence summarized here suggests that Mg is passively reabsorbed via the paracellular pathway in the cTAL of the loop of Henle. Several factors affect Mg reabsorption in the loop of Henle. Hypermagnesemia and hypercalcemia inhibit reabsorption leading to increased urinary excretion of Mg and Ca. These effects have been reviewed in detail elsewhere (113, 149). Magnesium depletion, for instance through dietary Mg deprivation, enhances Mg reabsorption in the loop of Henle before the fall in plasma Mg concentration and filtered Mg load.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Ca2+, Mg2+ and K+ transport in the cortical and medullary thick ascending limb of the rat nephron: influence of transepithelial voltage.

Isolated segments of rat cortical (cTAL) and medullary (mTAL) thick ascending limbs were microperfused and the transepithelial net fluxes (JX) were determined by measuring the composition of the collected fluid with an electron microprobe. When perfused with symmetrical solutions both segments showed similar JNa and JCl and lumen-positive transepithelial voltage (Vte = 7-8 mV). JMg, JCa and JK were not significantly different from zero. When perfused with asymmetrical solutions (lumen 50 mM, bath 150 mM NaCl), the mean Vte were 23 mV and 17 mV in the cTAL and mTAL respectively; this rise was accompanied by significant increases in JMg and JCa in the cTAL, but not in the mTAL, and a marked increase in JK in both segments. It is concluded that, in the rat, divalent cations can be reabsorbed in the cTAL, and K+ can be reabsorbed in the cTAL and mTAL. The transport is voltage-dependent. The mTAL can reabsorb neither Mg2+ nor Ca2+, whatever Vte.

Insulin stimulates Na+, Cl-, Ca2+, and Mg2+ transports in TAL of mouse nephron: cross-potentiation with AVP.

Insulin (Ins) decreases Na+ delivery in the final urine. To determine whether the loop of Henle participates in this reduction, the effects of Ins were tested on cortical (CTAL) and medullary thick ascending limbs (MTAL) of the mouse nephron, microperfused in vitro. In the MTAL, Ins increased the transepithelial potential difference (Vt) and the Na+ and Cl- net reabsorption fluxes (JNa and JCl, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner, the threshold being below 10(-9) M. At 10(-7) M, Ins reversibly increased JNa and JCl, leaving Mg2+ and Ca2+ fluxes (JMg and JCa, respectively) close to zero. In the CTAL, 10(-7) M Ins reversibly increased Vt, JNa, JCl, JMg, and JCa. In CTAL segments perfused under asymmetrical conditions, with a bath-to-lumen-directed NaCl gradient (lumen 50 mM NaCl, bath 150 mM NaCl), addition of 10(-7) M Ins to the bath resulted in a large increase in JMg and JCa. Thus the responses of CTAL and MTAL to Ins are in all ways similar to those already reported for the adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-generating hormones acting on these nephron segments. When 10(-10) M arginine vasopressin (AVP) and 10(-7) M Ins were used in combination, previous addition of one hormone to the bath potentiated the response to the second hormone. In cAMP accumulation experiments, performed in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, the amounts of cAMP formed with 10(-7) M Ins and 10(-10) M AVP (which elicit maximal physiological responses in these segments) were in the same range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport in the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of the mouse is a voltage-dependent process.

The mechanisms responsible for transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ in transport in the isolated perfused cortical thick ascending limb (cTAL) of Henle's loop of the mouse nephron were investigated by measuring transepithelial voltages (PDte) and transepithelial ion net fluxes (JNa, JCl, JK, JCa, JMg) by electron microprobe analysis. In the presence of furosemide (10(-4) mol.l-1, lumen) and diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC, 10(-4) mol.l-1, bath), known inhibitors of NaCl reabsorption in the TAL, Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption was completely inhibited. In the presence of furosemide, JCa fell from 0.75 +/- 0.07 to -0.08 +/- 0.09 pmol.min-1.mm-1 (n = 5), and JMg from 0.47 +/- 0.04 to -0.01 +/- 0.11 pmol.min-1.mm-1 (n = 5). In the presence of DPC, JCa fell from 0.57 +/- 0.08 to -0.07 +/- 0.11 pmol.min-1.mm-1 (n = 5), and JMg from 0.16 +/- 0.02 to -0.11 +/- 0.07 pmol.min-1.mm-1 (n = 5). With furosemide, inhibition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport was paralleled by a 93% inhibition of NaCl reabsorption, while in the presence of DPC there was a 60% reduction of NaCl reabsorption. These effects were fully reversed after removal of the inhibitors from the lumen or bath solutions. In the absence of active NaCl transport, a lumen-to-bath directed-NaCl gradient (lumen: 150 mM NaCl + furosemide, bath: 50 mM NaCl + 200 mM mannitol) generated a negative transepithelial dilution potential of -13.8 +/- 1.1 mV (n = 8) which induced a significant Ca2+ and Mg2+ secretion into the tubular lumen of -0.59 +/- 0.06 and -0.43 +/- 0.05 pmol.min-1.mm-1 (n = 8), respectively. A bath-to-lumen-directed NaCl gradient, on the other hand, (lumen: 50 mM NaCl + furosemide, bath: 150 mM NaCl) generated a positive transepithelial dilution potential of +15.9 +/- 0.6 mV (n = 7), inducing a significant Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption of 0.62 +/- 0.08 and 0.38 +/- 0.07 pmol.min-1.mm-1 (n = 7), respectively. Linear regression analysis of individual Ca2+ and Mg2+ net flux data versus voltage indicated that JCa and JMg were highly correlated to PDte. In conclusion, these data indicate that transepithelial Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption in the mouse cTAL is predominantly a passive process, driven by the lumen-positive PDte.

Hormonal stimulation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport in the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of the mouse: evidence for a change in the paracellular pathway permeability.

Recent studies from our laboratory have shown that in the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop of the mouse (cTAL) Ca2+ and Mg2+ are reabsorbed passively, via the paracellular shunt pathway. In the present study, cellular mechanisms responsible for the hormone-stimulated Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport were investigated. Transepithelial voltages (PDte) and transepithelial ion net fluxes (JNa, JCl, JK, JCa, JMg) were measured in isolated perfused mouse cTAL segments. Whether parathyroid hormone (PTH) is able to stimulate Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption when active NaCl reabsorption and thus PDte, is abolished by luminal furosemide was first tested. With symmetrical lumen and bath Ringer's solutions, no Ca2+ and Mg2+ net transport was detectable, either in the absence or in the presence of PTH. In the presence of luminal furosemide and a chemically imposed lumen-to-bath directed NaCl gradient, which generates a lumen-negative PDte, PTH slightly but significantly increased Ca2+ and Mg2+ net secretion. In the presence of luminal furosemide and a chemically imposed bath-to-lumen-directed NaCl gradient, which generates a lumen-positive PDte, PTH slightly but significantly increased Ca2+ and Mg2+ net reabsorption. In view of the observed small effect of PTH on passive Ca2+ and Mg2+ movement, a possible interference of furosemide with the hormonal response was considered. To investigate this possibility, Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport was first stimulated with PTH in tubules under control conditions. Then active NaCl reabsorption was abolished by furosemide and the effect of PTH on JCa and JMg measured. In the absence of PDte and under symmetrical conditions, no Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport was detectable, either in the presence or absence of PTH. In the presence of a bath-to-lumen-directed NaCl gradient, Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption was significantly higher in the presence than in the absence of PTH. Finally, when active NaCl transport was not inhibited by furosemide, but reduced by a bath-to-lumen-directed NaCl gradient, PTH strongly increased JCa and JMg, whereas only a small increase in PDte was noted. In conclusion, these data suggest that PTH exerts a dual action on Ca2+ and Mg2+ transport in the mouse cTAL by increasing the transepithelial driving force for Ca2+ and Mg2+ reabsorption through hormone-mediated PDte alterations and by modifying the passive permeability for Ca2+ and Mg2+ of the epithelium, very probably at the level of the paracellular shunt pathway.

Effects of calcitonin on function of intercalated cells of rat cortical collecting duct.

In the rat cortical collecting duct (CCD), the presence of highly specific receptors to calcitonin (CT) coupled to a sensitive adenylate cyclase system suggests that this segment is a target site for CT. Our aim was to explore the effects of CT on the rat CCD microperfused in vitro. The hormone failed to alter the osmotic water permeability and did not affect net Na+ transport but generated a lumen-positive transepithelial potential difference (PDte), which under control conditions was close to zero. This response was dose dependent and was still observed in the presence of luminal amiloride, despite the luminal positivity generated by the Na+ channel blocker (PDte increased from 4.0 +/- 0.8 to 9.5 +/- 1.1 mV). In contrast, the nominal absence of CO2/HCO3- or the use of a low-Cl- solution totally prevented the PDte changes caused by CT. The CT-induced lumen-positive PDte was reduced by 2.3 +/- 0.8 mV after the basolateral addition of the Cl- channel inhibitor diphenylamine-2-carboxylate. 4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and acetazolamide, which inhibit Cl-/HCO3- exchangers and carbonic anhydrase activities, respectively, also inhibited the CT-induced PDte by 4.6 +/- 0.5 and 5.0 +/- 0.9 mV. To test whether the acid-base status of the animals influences the response to CT, rats underwent an acid or alkali load. CCD dissected from acid-loaded rats responded to CT to the same extent as control animals, but the hormonal action was significantly attenuated when the CCD was harvested from alkali-loaded rats (PDte increases: acid 4.0 +/- 0.3 vs. alkali 1.6 +/- 0.6 mV, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Predominant expression of beta 1-adrenergic receptor in the thick ascending limb of rat kidney. Absolute mRNA quantitation by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction.

Beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta-ARs) expression in the thick ascending limb of rat kidney was studied at the level of mRNA and receptor coupling to adenylyl cyclase. Absolute quantitation of beta 1- and beta 2-AR mRNAs in microdissected nephron segments was performed with an assay based on reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction, using in vitro transcribed mutant RNAs as internal standards. In the cortical thick ascending limb (CTAL), the number of mRNA molecules/mm of tubular length was 2,806 +/- 328 (n = 12) for beta 1-AR and 159 +/- 26 for beta 2-AR (P < 0.01). Lower levels were obtained in the medullary thick ascending, beta 1-AR mRNA still being predominant. The pharmacological properties of beta-ARS was also studied in the CTAL. Cyclic AMP accumulation was stimulated by beta-agonist with a rank order of potency of isoproterenol > norepinephrine > epinephrine. This observation, and the higher efficiency of a beta 1 than of a beta 2 antagonist to inhibit isoproterenol-induced cAMP accumulation, establish the typical beta 1-AR sensitivity of the CTAL. No detectable contribution of atypical or beta 3-ARs to adenylyl cyclase stimulation could be found. In conclusion, this study, which shows markedly different levels of beta 1- and beta 2-AR mRNAS in the CTAL, provides a molecular basis for the predominant expression of the beta 1 receptor subtype in this nephron segment.

Hormonal control of renal magnesium handling.

In the kidney, the main site of magnesium transport is the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop which reabsorbs about 70% of filtered magnesium. In the mouse and rat, this reabsorption takes place essentially in the cortical portion of the thick ascending limb (cTAL). In the medullary portion (mTAL) the transport is not significantly different from zero, irrespective of the voltage, whereas in the cTAL, it is exclusively voltage-dependent. In the cTAL, up to six hormones (including PTH) or agonists can stimulate Mg transport. They are totally inactive in the mTAL. The data obtained in the mouse cTAL indicate that the hormone-dependent increases in magnesium transport result from two synergistic effects: (1) a rise in the transepithelial voltage and (2) an increase in the permeability to magnesium of the paracellular shunt pathway.