Down-regulation of urea transporters in the renal inner medulla of lithium-fed rats

BACKGROUND: Lithium is commonly used to treat bipolar psychiatric disorders but can cause reduced urine concentrating ability. METHODS: To test whether lithium alters UT-A1 or UT-B urea transporter protein abundance or UT-A1 phosphorylation, rats were fed a standard diet supplemented with LiCl for 10 or 25 days, and then compared to pair-fed control rats. To investigate another potential mechanism for decreased urea transport, inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) suspensions from lithium-fed or control rats were incubated with 32P-orthophosphate to measure the phosphorylation of UT-A1. RESULTS: In lithium-fed rats (25 days), UT-A1 abundance was reduced to 50% of control rats in IM tip and to 25% in IM base, and UT-B abundance was reduced to 40% in IM base. Aquaporin-2 (AQP2) protein abundance was reduced in both IM regions. Vasopressin (100 pmol/L) increased UT-A1 phosphorylation in IMCD suspensions from control but not from lithium-fed rats; a higher vasopressin concentration (100 nmol/L) increased UT-A1 phosphorylation in control and lithium-fed rats. CONCLUSIONS: Decreases in UT-A1, UT-B, and AQP2 protein abundance, and/or vasopressin-stimulated phosphorylation of UT-A1, can contribute to the reduced urine concentrating ability that occurs in lithium-treated rats.