Expression of a novel isoform of Na+/H+ exchanger 3 in the kidney and intestine of banded houndshark, Triakis scyllium

Na+/H+ exchanger 3 (NHE3) provides one of the major Na+ absorptive pathways of the intestine and kidney in mammals, and recent studies of aquatic vertebrates (teleosts and elasmobranchs) have demonstrated that NHE3 is expressed in the gill and plays important roles in ion and acid-base regulation. To understand the role of NHE3 in elasmobranch osmoregulatory organs, we analyzed renal and intestinal expressions and localizations of NHE3 in a marine elasmobranch, Japanese banded houndshark ( Triakis scyllium). mRNA for Triakis NHE3 was most highly expressed in the gill, kidney, spiral intestine, and rectum. The kidney and intestine expressed a transcriptional isoform of NHE3 (NHE3k/i), which has a different amino terminus compared with that of NHE3 isolated from the gill (NHE3g), suggesting that NHE3k/i and NHE3g arise from a single gene by alternative promoter usage. Immunohistochemical analyses of the Triakis kidney demonstrated that NHE3k/i is expressed in the apical membrane of a part of the proximal and late distal tubules in the sinus zone. In the bundle zone of the kidney, NHE3k/i was expressed in the apical membrane of the early distal tubules known as the diluting segment. In the spiral intestine and rectum, NHE3k/i was localized toward the apical membrane of the epithelial cells. The transcriptional levels of NHE3k/i were increased in the kidney when Triakis was acclimated in 130% seawater, whereas those in the spiral intestine were increased in fish acclimated in diluted seawater. These results suggest that NHE3 is involved in renal Na+ reabsorption, urine acidification, and intestinal Na+ absorption in elasmobranchs.

Regulation and identity of intracellular calcium stores involved in membrane cross talk in the early distal tubule of the frog kidney

The early distal tubule (EDT) of the frog nephron, similar to the thick ascending limb in mammals, mediates the transepithelial absorption of NaCl. The continued absorption of NaCl in the face of varying Na+ load is maintained by coordination of the activity of ion-transporting proteins in the apical and basolateral membranes, so-called pump-leak coupling. Previous studies identified intracellular Ca2+, originating from an intracellular Ca2+ store, as playing a key role in pump-leak coupling in the EDT (Cooper GJ, Fowler MR, and Hunter M. Pflügers Arch 442: 243–247, 2001). The purpose of the experiments described in this paper was to identify the intracellular Ca2+ storage pools in the renal diluting segment. Store Ca2+ movements were monitored by the fluorescence of mag-fura 2 in permeabilized segments of frog EDTs. The presence of both ATP and Ca2+ was required to maintain store Ca2+ content. Removal of either of these substrates resulted in a passive leak of Ca2+ from the stores. The uptake of Ca2+ into the store was sensitive to the SERCA inhibitor 2,5-di( tert-butyl) hydroquinone, whereas Ca2+ release from the store was stimulated by IP3 but not cADPR. Store Ca2+ was insensitive to the mitochondrial ATP synthase inhibitor oligomycin, and, under conditions that energized Δψm, the complex 1 inhibitor rotenone and the protonophore FCCP. Ionomycin was able to mobilize store Ca2+ following exposure to IP3. These results suggest that the endoplasmic reticulum is a dominant Ca2+ store in the frog EDT. A second pool, sensitive to ionomycin but not IP3, may overlap with the IP3-sensitve pool. The data also rule out any contribution by mitochondria to EDT Ca2+ cycling.

Renal adrenergic receptors: localization of [125I]prazosin binding sites along the microdissected rat nephron

Norepinephrine stimulates renal tubular sodium reabsorption, probably through an α1-adrenoceptor-mediated mechanism. Although the distribution of α1-adrenoceptors in the kidney has been studied with autoradiography, the precise location of these receptors in isolated nephron segments is unclear. Using a microassay we determined the specific binding of [125I]iodoarylazidoprazosin ([125I]prazosin), a high specific radioactivity analog of the selective α1-antagonist prazosin, to microdissected glomeruli and tubule segments. Specific binding of [125I]prazosin (3 nM) in the proximal convoluted tubule was time- and concentration-dependent, saturable, and reversible. In this segment the apparent KD by association and dissociation rate constants of [125I]prazosin binding was 0.47 nM, and the maximum receptor density was ~ 0.19 fmol/mm, or 720 fmol/mg protein. Binding specificity was verified in competition studies with excess (3 μM) unlabeled prazosin and probes for α2- (yohimbine), β- (propranolol), dopamine1- (SCH23390), and dopamine2- (S-sulpiride) receptors. [125I]Prazosin binding was inhibited significantly only by unlabeled prazosin. Mapping of prazosin binding along the nephron revealed that the highest density was in the proximal convoluted tubule, followed by the proximal straight tubule. Lesser binding was found in the thick ascending limb and in the distal convoluted tubule, whereas in the cortical and outer medullary collecting duct and in glomeruli, binding was not significantly different from zero. These results demonstrate specific prazosin binding sites in the proximal and early distal nephron where direct innervation by monoaminergic nerves is most abundant, and suggest that portions of the nephron beyond the proximal tubule, specifically the diluting segment, may also be under α1-agonist influence.Key words: α1-adrenoceptor, prazosin, isolated tubule, glomerulus, catecholamine.

Apical membrane potassium channels in frog diluting segment: stimulation by furosemide

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the activity of apical membrane potassium channels in frog isolated everted diluting segments, and the effect of transport inhibitors on channel activity was assessed. In cell-attached patches with a high-potassium pipette solution and Ringer in the bath the channels show inward rectification (inward conductance, 25.1 pS; outward conductance, 10.5 pS). The channel is selective for potassium over sodium and is voltage dependent with depolarization increasing channel open probability (Po). Furosemide increased channel activity, which resulted exclusively from a significant increase in the number (N) of channels in the patch (control, 2.3 +/- 0.3, n = 8; furosemide, 4.0 +/- 0.4, n = 14) without any significant change in Po. Amiloride blocked the stimulatory effect of furosemide by reducing N to 1.4 +/- 0.6 (n = 6), and amiloride alone also reduced N with no significant change in Po. This suggests that the increase in N in response to furosemide may be secondary to a rise in intracellular pH mediated by activation of the apical Na-H exchanger.

Role of prostaglandins in the natriuresis of head-out water immersion in humans

1. Prostaglandins may play a role in the natriuresis seen after acute circulatory challenges. To assess this role in head-out water immersion, we compared, in clearance studies, the effects of acute (24 h) and chronic (7 days) administration of indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, on the renal response to head-out water immersion in six healthy subjects on a 200 mmol of sodium/day diet and on a 40 mmol of sodium/day diet. 2. Indomethacin caused a similar degree of sodium retention on each of these two diets. 3. During the 40 mmol of sodium/day diet, acute administration of indomethacin decreased sodium excretion before, as well as during, head-out water immersion; however, the relative increase caused by head-out water immersion was normal. After chronic administration of indomethacin, both baseline sodium excretion and the natriuresis induced by head-out water immersion were similar to those in control studies. 4. During the 200 mmol of sodium/day diet, indomethacin had no effect on baseline sodium excretion, nor on the natriuretic effect of head-out water immersion. 5. Head-out water immersion decreased tubular lithium reabsorption and increased diluting segment delivery. Despite opposite effects of indomethacin on these parameters, indomethacin did not prevent the tubular effects of head-out water immersion on either diet. However, indomethacin did prevent the marked increase in estimated renal plasma flow and the fall in filtration fraction that were observed during head-out water immersion in the absence of indomethacin (control). 6. Head-out water immersion was not associated with an increase in urinary excretion of prostaglandins. Indomethacin lowered baseline urinary excretion of prostaglandins, which did not change further during head-out water immersion. 7. We therefore conclude that renal prostaglandins are not essential for a normal natriuretic response to head-out water immersion, although they may mediate the vasodilatation induced by head-out water immersion.