Angiotensin regulates endothelin-B receptor in rat inner medullary collecting duct

Our recent studies showed that endothelin (ET)(B) receptors are downregulated in congestive heart failure. These changes in ET(B) receptor density can be prevented by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, suggesting a possible role for angiotensin. Using isolated inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD), we examined the possibility that angiotensin-induced downregulation of ET(B) receptors is accompanied by a decrease in ET(B) receptor mRNA. Binding studies showed that overnight incubation with angiotensin II induced a downregulatiion of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors' density in IMCD by 39% and 29%, respectively. This downregulation in ET receptor density was abolished when IMCD was coincubated with angiotensin II and its receptor antagonist saralasin. Furthermore, when the cells were exposed to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), it resulted in a reduction in ET(A) and ET(B) receptor binding sites by 41% and 34%, respectively, suggesting the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC). In isolated IMCD, ET-1 induced an increase in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) accumulation (705 + 63 to 1,015 + 88 fmol/microg protein/5min, P <.01), and the ET-1-induced accumulation was attenuated in the presence of angiotensin II (641 + 45 to 809 + 46 fmol/microg protein/5min, P <.01). Using competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, we also observed downregulation of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors mRNA in IMCD treated with angiotensin II (ET(A), 1.09+0.11 v 0.77 + 0.07 amol/microg of total RNA, P <.01; ET(B), 14.80 + 1.95 v 8.65 + 0.67 amol/microg of total RNA, P <.01). The addition of a PKC inhibitor abolished the downregulation of ET(A) and ET(B) receptor mRNA induced by angiotensin II (ET(A), 1.25 + 0.07 v 1.19 + 0.06 amol/microg of total RNA, not significant [NS]; ET(B), 14.36 + 0.83 to 13.68 + 0.64 amol/microg of total RNA, NS). These results suggest that angiotensin II-induced downregulation of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors mRNA is mediated by a mechanism involving PKC.     

Interaction between angiotensin II and endothelin isoforms in the pithed rat

The 3 isoforms of endothelin (ET) (potent peptidic vasoconstrictor isolated from endothelial cells) induce biphasic pressor effects when given intravenously: a transient hypotension followed by a long-lasting hypertension. The aim of this work was to study the regulatory effect of vascular tone on ET-induced pressor responses in the pithed rat. After pithing, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was elevated by continuous perfusion of angiotensin-II (AII) or methoxamine (MTX). When DBP was stabilized ET's isoforms (ET-1, ET-2, ET-3) were injected (1 nmol/kg). Solvent injection permitted to assess the stability of AII or MTX perfusions. Intravenous injections of ET induced a sharp hypotension which is more pronounced when initial DBP increased whatever the vasoactive substance used to elevate DBP. The maximal effects of each ET was identical but the hypotension is longer for ET-3 than for ET-1 and ET-2. The following hypertensive phase diminished when DBP increased but is strongly blunted in AII-supported rats when compared to MTX-supported rats. Furthermore, ET-3 appeared to be devoided of hypertensive effect in AII-supported pithed rats. These results indicate that AII is able to modulate ET-induced pressor response, whereas the initial hypotensive phase is only dependent of vascular tone.     

Sgk1 mediates osmotic induction of NPR-A gene in rat inner medullary collecting duct cells

We have shown previously that increased extracellular osmolality stimulates expression and promoter activity of the type A natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-A) gene in rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells through a mechanism that involves activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The serum and glucocorticoid inducible kinase (Sgk) is thought to participate in the regulation of sodium handling in distal tubular segments. We sought to determine whether this kinase might be involved in the osmotic stimulation of NPR-A gene promoter activity. Exposure of cultured IMCD cells to an additional 75 mmol/L NaCl in culture media (final osmolality 475 mosm/kg) resulted in an approximately 4-fold increase in Sgk1 protein levels after 7 hours. The Sgk1 induction was almost completely inhibited by the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580, indicating that NaCl activates Sgk1 through the p38 MAPK pathway. Transient transfection of a mouse Sgk1 expression vector along with a -1590 NPR-A luciferase reporter resulted in an approximately 3-fold increment in reporter activity, which was significantly reduced by cotransfection with a kinase-dead Sgk1 mutant. The NaCl-dependent induction was partially blocked (approximately 40% inhibition) by cotransfection of the kinase-dead Sgk1 mutant. Neither Sgk1 nor the kinase-dead mutant had any effect on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) promoter activity, and the Sgk1 mutant and 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate were, to some degree, additive in reducing osmotically stimulated NPR-A promoter activity. Collectively, these data imply that Sgk1 operates over an eNOS-independent, p38 MAPK-dependent pathway in mediating osmotic induction of the NPR-A gene promoter.     

Postnatal ontogenesis of vasopressin receptors in the rat collecting duct.

The ontogenesis of vasopressin receptors in the rat collecting duct was studied by measuring the binding of [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),2-O-methyltyrosine,4-threonine,8-ornithine,9-125I-tyrosylamide+ ++]-vasotocin (125I-d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2,Thr4,Tyr-NH(9)2]-OVT) to isolated cortical collecting ducts (CCD), outer medullary collecting ducts (OMCD) and inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCD) microdissected from collagenase-treated kidneys of 2- to 34-day-old rats and adult animals. The stereospecificity for recognition of a series of seven vasopressin structural analogues by CCD and OMCD receptors reveals that the labeled binding sites identified in 11- to 16-day-old and adult rats are homologous respectively and contain a major population of V2 type and a minor population of V1a type of vasopressin receptors. At all postnatal stages examined, the receptor density (expressed as 10(-18) mol radioligand bound per square millimeter tubular outer surface area) decreases gradually from the CCD to the IMCD. For the three segments, the numbers of receptors detected remained constant during the first 2 weeks after birth and increased sharply after 20 days to reach the corresponding adult levels during the fifth week.     

Sex differences in renal medullary endothelin receptor function in angiotensin II hypertensive rats

We hypothesized that angiotensin (Ang) II hypertensive rats have impaired natriuresis after renal medullary endothelin (ET) B receptor stimulation that would be more evident in male versus female rats. Acute intramedullary infusion of the ET(B) agonist sarafotoxin 6c in normotensive male rats increased sodium excretion from 0.51±0.11 μmol/min during baseline to 1.64±0.19 μmol/min (P<0.05) after S6c. After 2 weeks of Ang II infusion (260 ng/kg per minute SC), male rats had an attenuated natriuretic response to S6c of 0.62±0.16 μmol/min during baseline versus 0.95±0.07 μmol/min after S6c. In contrast, ET(B)-dependent natriuresis was similar in female hypertensive rats (0.48±0.07 versus 1.5±0.18 μmol/min; P<0.05) compared with normotensive controls (1.05±0.07 versus 2.14±0.24 μmol/min; P<0.05). Because ET(A) receptors also mediate natriuresis in normotensive female rats, we examined ET(A) receptor function in female Ang II hypertensive rats. Intramedullary infusion of ET-1 increased sodium excretion in both hypertensive and normotensive female rats, which was partially blocked by the ET(A) antagonist BQ-123. Maximum ET(B) receptor binding in inner medullary membrane preparations was comparable between vehicle and Ang II hypertensive females; however, maximum ET(B) binding was significantly lower in male hypertensive rats (1952±251 versus 985±176 fmol/mg; P<0.05). These results indicate that renal ET(B) function is impaired in male Ang II hypertension attributed, at least in part, to a reduced number of ET(B) binding sites. Furthermore, renal ET receptor function is preserved in female rats during chronic Ang II infusion, suggesting that renal ET receptor function could serve to limit hypertension in females compared with males.     

Effects of urinary ouabain-like factors and vanadium diascorbate on calcium mobilization in porcine inner medullary collecting duct cells: Comparison with the effects of ouabain and vasopressin

It is speculated that ouabain-like factors (OLF) play a role in the pathogenesis of volume-dependent hypertension. In previous studies we isolated a more polar OLF-1 and a more apolar OLF-2 from the urine of healthy subjects after 5 days on a high sodium intake (>400 mmol/day) by gel chromatography (Sephadex G-25 and G-10) and reverse-phase HPLC. We subsequently identified the chemical structure of OLF-2 as vanadium (V^IV ) diascorbate. OLF-1, OLF-2, and vanadium diascorbate inhibited dose-dependently porcine Na-K-ATPase in vitro. Because the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) plays a crucial role in the long-term regulation of body fluid volume, in the present study we investigated the effects of urinary OLF-1 and OLF-2, and of vanadium diascorbate in comparison to ouabain and vasopressin (AVP) on calcium mobilization, ie, on free calcium concentration [Ca²⁺]_i, in cultured porcine IMCD cells. [Ca²⁺]_i was determined by the fura-2 method in IMCD cells isolated by hypotonic treatment and density gradient centrifugation from fresh porcine kidneys. Assuming an approximate molecular weight (MW) of 400 for OLF-1 and OLF-2, OLF-1 (10⁻⁴ mol/L) produced a slow increase in [Ca²⁺]_i from 39 ± 10 to 169 ± 21 nmol/L (n = 7 ) after 4 min. Similarly, OLF-2 (10⁻⁴ mol/L) resulted in an increase in [Ca²⁺]_i from 74 ± 20 to 216 ± 52 nmol/L (n = 7) after 4 min. Vanadium diascorbate (MW 403) dose-dependently increased [Ca²⁺]_i . At a concentration of 10⁻⁶ mol/L it increased [Ca²⁺]_i from 46 ± 5 to 149 ± 9 nmol/L (n = 5) after 4 min. A similar slow increase in [Ca²⁺]_i was found with ouabain (10⁻⁶ mol/L), which increased [Ca²⁺]_i from 61 ± 22 to 180 ± 29 nmol/L (n = 5) after 4 min in contrast to AVP (10⁻⁷ mol/L), which rapidly increased [Ca²⁺]_i from 48 ± 10 to 299 ± 32 nmol/L (n = 4) within 30 sec. Thus, OLF-1, OLF-2, and Vanadium diascorbate, the active component of OLF-2, reveal similar effects as ouabain on IMCD cells, ie, they produce a slow increase in [Ca²⁺]_i as expected from inhibition of Na-K-ATPase. The physiologic or pathologic roles of these and additional OLF in body fluid and blood pressure regulation and in hypertension have yet to be evaluated.     

Regulation of collecting duct water channel expression by vasopressin in Brattleboro rat.

AQP-CD is a vasopressin-regulated water channel expressed exclusively in the renal collecting duct. We have previously shown that AQP-CD is present in the apical plasma membrane and subapical vesicles of collecting duct cells, consistent with membrane-shuttling mechanisms that have been proposed to explain the short-term action of [Arg8] vasopressin (AVP) to regulate apical water permeability. We propose here that AVP may also have long-term actions on the collecting duct to regulate the expression of the AQP-CD water channel. We used immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro perfusion of renal tubules to investigate water channel regulation in collecting ducts of diabetes insipidus (Brattleboro) rats treated with a 5-day infusion of AVP or vehicle. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that collecting ducts of vehicle-infused Brattleboro rats had markedly reduced expression of AQP-CD relative to normal rats. In response to AVP infusion there was a nearly 3-fold increase in AQP-CD expression as detected by immunoblotting. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that the increased expression was predominantly in the apical plasma membrane and subapical vesicles of collecting duct cells. Inner medullary collecting ducts of AVP-infused Brattleboro rats displayed a 3-fold increase in osmotic water permeability relative to vehicle-infused controls, in parallel with the change in AQP-CD expression. Based on these findings, we conclude that (i) long-term infusion of AVP, acting either directly or indirectly, regulates expression of the AQP-CD water channel and (ii) AQP-CD is the predominant AVP-regulated water channel.     

Rapid stimulation of cyclic AMP production by aldosterone in rat inner medullary collecting ducts

Aldosterone stimulates sodium transport in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) via the classic genomic pathway, but it is not known whether it also acts via a rapid, non-conventional pathway in this part of the nephron. The IMCD regulates the final sodium content of urine and expresses vasopressin receptors coupled to adenylate cyclase. The recently reported rapid, non-genomic actions of aldosterone have been associated mainly with an increase in intracellular Ca(2+); however, it has also been shown to stimulate camp generation. Thus the aim of this study was to determine whether aldosterone stimulates rapid generation of cAMP in isolated IMCD segments. IMCD segments were microdissected from Sprague-Dawley rat kidneys and incubated at 37 degrees C for 4 min with aldosterone (10(-12) to 10(-6) M), vasopressin (10(-12) to 10(-6) M), or a combination of hormones in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. cAMP was measured by radioimmunoassay. While corticosterone and dexamethasone were ineffective, aldosterone stimulated a dose-dependent increase in cAMP within 4 min (P<0.05). This action of aldosterone was not inhibited by the MR antagonist spironolactone. Co-incubation of aldosterone with vasopressin resulted in a further increase in cAMP generation above that induced by the neurohypophysial hormone alone. Aldosterone-mediated cAMP generation was not inhibited by a vasopressin V(1) or V(2) receptor antagonist. These data support a novel and rapid, non-genomic effect of aldosterone in IMCD. Aldosterone does not apparently interact with the vasopressin receptor to stimulate cAMP generation.     

Angiotensin II stimulates renin in inner medullary collecting duct cells via protein kinase C and independent of epithelial sodium channel and mineralocorticoid receptor activity

Collecting duct (CD) renin is stimulated by angiotensin (Ang) II, providing a pathway for Ang I generation and further conversion to Ang II. Ang II stimulates the epithelial sodium channel via the Ang II type 1 receptor and increases mineralocorticoid receptor activity attributed to increased aldosterone release. Our objective was to determine whether CD renin augmentation is mediated directly by Ang II type 1 receptor or via the epithelial sodium channel and mineralocorticoid receptor. In vivo studies examined the effects of epithelial sodium channel blockade (amiloride; 5 mg/kg per day) on CD renin expression and urinary renin content in Ang II-infused rats (80 ng/min, 2 weeks). Ang II infusion increased systolic blood pressure, medullary renin mRNA, urinary renin content, and intrarenal Ang II levels. Amiloride cotreatment did not alter these responses despite a reduction in the rate of progression of systolic blood pressure. In primary cultures of inner medullary CD cells, renin mRNA and (pro)renin protein levels increased with Ang II (100 nmol/L), and candesartan (Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist) prevented this effect. Aldosterone (10(-10) to 10(-7) mol/L) with or without amiloride did not modify the upregulation of renin mRNA in Ang II-treated cells. However, inhibition of protein kinase C with calphostin C prevented the Ang II-mediated increases in renin mRNA and (pro)renin protein levels. Furthermore, protein kinase C activation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate increased renin expression to the same extent as Ang II. These data indicate that an Ang II type 1 receptor-mediated increase in CD renin is induced directly by Ang II via the protein kinase C pathway and that this regulation is independent of mineralocorticoid receptor activation or epithelial sodium channel activity.     

Physiological effects of vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide in the collecting duct

Vasopressin plays a primary role in the concentration of urine to maintain body fluid homeostasis. The collecting duct as well as thick ascending limb is a major target site of vasopressin. The antidiuretic action of vasopressin is mediated by the V2 receptor in the basolateral membrane of principal cells in the collecting ducts. The binding of vasopressin to V2 receptors causes an activation of adenylate cyclase and a synthesis of cAMP. Vasopressin regulates water and ion transport through V2 receptor-mediated ion channels and transporters. In contrast, the V1a receptor mainly in the luminal membrane of distal nephron regulates basolateral V2 receptor-mediated action with regard to water and ion transport through the activation of G(q/11) and phosphoinositide turnover. Guanylate cyclase forms three types of ANP receptors, although NPR-A and B (GC-A and B) are biologically active and related to the synthesis of cGMP. Urodilatin, synthesized by the kidney, causes natriuresis by binding to GC-A in the collecting ducts. ANP causes diuresis and natriuresis, at least in part by inhibiting the V2 receptor-mediated action of AVP in the collecting ducts. The site of interaction of ANP and AVP is post cAMP synthesis, at least in the collecting ducts. The roles of AVP and ANP under pathophysiological conditions have been reported.     

Interaction between adenosine and angiotensin II in renal microcirculation

In order to examine the possibility of an interaction between adenosine and angiotensin II (A II) in the control of the renal microcirculation, we studied the effects of agonists and antagonists of both substances by means of in vivo microscopy in the split hydronephrotic rat kidney. In a first series of experiments (n = 6), local application of the A II receptor antagonist saralasin (10(-6) mol.liter-1 abolished the vasoconstriction and the reduction of glomerular blood flow induced by the A1-adenosine receptor agonist N6-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA, local concentration 10(-7) mol.liter-1). Without saralasin (second series, n = 6), CHA reduced glomerular blood flow and decreased vessel diameters as previously reported from our laboratory. In a third series of experiments (n = 6), A II significantly reduced vessel diameters and glomerular blood flow both alone and during blockage of the A1-adenosine receptor by the selective antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX, 10(-5) mol.liter-1). In additional experiments, we excluded nonspecific receptor effects of saralasin and confirmed the inhibitory action of DPCPX on the adenosine-induced vasoconstriction. We suppose that adenosine needs a functioning A II receptor system for its vasoconstrictor action, whereas A II can induce a nonadenosine-dependent vasoconstriction.     

Prompt inhibition of arginine vasopressin-induced cellular adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production by extracellular sodium depletion in rat renal inner medullary collecting duct cells in culture

The present study was undertaken to determine whether the absence of extracellular Na+ affects cellular action of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in rat renal inner medullary collecting duct cells in culture. AVP increased cellular cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. Na+ depletion promptly diminished the cellular cAMP response to AVP (1 nM AVP; 405.9 +/- 26.1 vs. 189.8 +/- 12.1 fmol/micrograms protein, P less than 0.01). The dose-response relation shifted to the right. The inhibition of the ability of AVP to produce cAMP was observed with an extracellular Na+ concentration less than 60 mM. Similar results were obtained with 2 x 10(-8) M forskolin, a diterpene activator of adenylate cyclase. Such inhibition was easily released, since only 10-min reexposure of the Na(+)-depleted cells to the control medium totally recovered the cAMP response to AVP. Extracellular Na+ depletion promptly decreased the cellular Na+ concentration from 15.8 +/- 1.0 to 5.4 +/- 0.6 mM (P less than 0.01), measured using the fluorescence dye sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate. If the Na(+)-depleted cells were again incubated with the control medium, intracellular Na+ rapidly recovered to the precontrol level. Such a change was closely related to the change in cellular pH, which decreased from 7.19 +/- 0.02 to 6.97 +/- 0.02, measured using the fluorescence dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxymethyl)-5 (and -6)carboxyfluorescein,acetamethylester. However, Na+ depletion did not affect the cellular free calcium concentration or cellular protein and ATP contents. These results indicate that Na+ depletion promptly attenuated the ability of AVP to produce cAMP mediated through either the decrease in intracellular Na+ or cellular pH in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells.     

pH dependence of inhibition of arginine vasopressin-induced adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate production by cellular sodium depletion in rat renal inner medullary collecting duct cells in culture.

The present study was undertaken to determine whether the change in cellular Na+ concentration ( [Na+]i) or cellular pH (pHi) is essential for the modulation by Na+/H+ antiporter of the cellular action of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells in culture. Extracellular Na+ depletion promptly decreased [Na+]i from 15.8 to 5.4 mM (P less than 0.01), which was closely related to the decrease in pHi (7.19 to 6.97; P less than 0.01). In the presence of 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, AVP increased cellular cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. This was significantly blunted in the Na(+)-depleted cells (1 nM AVP; 481.9 vs. 341.0 fmol/micrograms protein; P less than 0.01). When cells were incubated with the Na(+)-depleted medium containing 25 mM NaHCO3, [Na+]i decreased promptly, but the pHi remained unchanged. Under this condition, the AVP-induced increase in cellular cAMP production was not altered (1 nM AVP; 390.9 vs. 334.8 fmol/micrograms protein). Also, after the Na(+)-depleted cells were incubated in 20 mM NH4Cl, which promptly normalized pHi despite the decreased [Na+]i, the response of cAMP production to AVP was restored. Amiloride (1 x 10(-5)-1 x 10(-3) M), which blocks the Na+/H+ exchange, decreased pHi and AVP- and forskolin-induced cAMP production in a dose-dependent manner. These results indicate that the decrease in [Na+]i promptly inhibits AVP-induced cAMP production mediated through the reduction in pHi in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells.     

Differential effects of hyperosmolality on Na-K-ATPase and vasopressin-dependent cAMP generation in the medullary thick ascending limb and outer medullary collecting duct.

Hyperosmolality in the renal medullary interstitium is generated by the renal countercurrent multiplication system, in which the medullary thick ascending limb (MAL) and the outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) primarily participate. Since arginine vasopressin (AVP) regulates Na-K-ATPase activity directly via protein kinase A and indirectly via hyperosmolality, we investigated the acute and chronic effects of hyperosmolality on Na-K-ATPase and AVP-dependent cAMP generation in the MAL and OMCD. Microdissected MAL and OMCD from control and dehydrated rats were used for the measurement of Na-K-ATPase activity, mRNA expression of alpha-1, beta-1, and beta-2 subunits of Na-K-ATPase, and AVP-dependent cAMP generation. Na-K-ATPase activity in the MAL from dehydrated rats, as measured in isotonic medium, was higher than that of control rats. Moreover, incubation of samples in hypertonic medium (490 mOsm/kg H2O) further increased Na-K-ATPase activity. Dehydration increased alpha-1, beta-1, and beta-2 mRNA expression in the MAL without changing that in the OMCD. Western blot analysis revealed that in the outer medulla, the expression of beta-1, but not that of alpha-1 or beta-2, was stimulated by dehydration. Incubation of MAL or OMCD in hypertonic medium increased AVP-dependent cAMP generation. Higher levels of AVP-dependent cAMP were generated in the MAL from dehydrated rats than that of controls, although incubation in hypertonic medium did not lead to additional increases in AVP-dependent cAMP accumulation. In contrast, AVP-dependent cAMP generation in the OMCD was stimulated by dehydration, and was further stimulated by incubation in hypertonic medium. These findings demonstrate that Na-K-ATPase is upregulated short- and long-term hyperosmolality in the MAL, but not in OMCD.