Podocyte GSK3 is an evolutionarily conserved critical regulator of kidney function.

Albuminuria affects millions of people, and is an independent risk factor for kidney failure, cardiovascular morbidity and death. The key cell that prevents albuminuria is the terminally differentiated glomerular podocyte. Here we report the evolutionary importance of the enzyme Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3) for maintaining podocyte function in mice and the equivalent nephrocyte cell in Drosophila. Developmental deletion of both GSK3 isoforms (α and ß) in murine podocytes causes late neonatal death associated with massive albuminuria and renal failure. Similarly, silencing GSK3 in nephrocytes is developmentally lethal for this cell. Mature genetic or pharmacological podocyte/nephrocyte GSK3 inhibition is also detrimental; producing albuminuric kidney disease in mice and nephrocyte depletion in Drosophila. Mechanistically, GSK3 loss causes differentiated podocytes to re-enter the cell cycle and undergo mitotic catastrophe, modulated via the Hippo pathway but independent of Wnt-ß-catenin. This work clearly identifies GSK3 as a critical regulator of podocyte and hence kidney function.

Transepithelial transport of fluorescent p-glycoprotein and MRP2 substrates by insect Malpighian tubules: confocal microscopic analysis of secreted fluid droplets.

Transport of fluorescent substrates of p-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) by insect Malpighian tubules was examined using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Isolated tubules of the cricket Teleogryllus commodus accumulated the MRP2 substrate Texas Red in the cells and lumen at concentrations up to 20 and 40 times, respectively, those in the bathing medium. Quantitative CLSM analysis of fluorochrome transport in some cricket tubules and all Drosophila tubules was not practical because of interfering effects of concretions in the cells and lumen. Samples of fluid secreted by tubules set up in Ramsay assays were therefore collected in hollow rectangle glass capillaries. Transepithelial dye flux was calculated as the product of fluid secretion rate (measured in the Ramsay assay) and dye concentration (measured by CLSM of the fluid samples). Dose-response curves for transport and the ratio of dye concentration in the secreted fluid to that in the bathing medium (S/M) were determined for Texas Red as well as for P-gp substrates (rhodamine 123, daunorubicin), the organic anion fluorescein and the organic cation quinacrine. Transepithelial transport of Texas Red was reduced by the MRP2 inhibitors MK571 and probenecid. Transport of daunorubicin was reduced by the P-gp inhibitors verapamil and quinacrine and also by the organic cation tetraethylammonium. The results indicate the presence of P-gp-like and MRP2-like transporters in the Malpighian tubules of both species.

A comparison of the counteracting effects of glycine betaine and TMAO on the activity of RNase A in aqueous urea solution.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and glycine betaine are counteracting osmolytes found in cellular systems under osmotic stress, often in association with high urea concentrations. TMAO is a characteristic component of cartilaginous fish and marine molluscs, while glycine betaine is more widely distributed, occurring in plants, bacteria and the mammalian kidney. As part of a project to explain and understand the action of these methylamines, the RNase A-catalysed degradation of polyuridylic acid in the presence of urea and various osmolytes (0-1.0 M) was studied using (31)P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. The decrease in reaction rate induced by urea could be fully recovered with 1 molar equivalent of trimethylamine-N-oxide or 1.4 molar equivalents of glycine betaine. These results indicate that the modification of RNase A activity induced by urea is not associated with gross irreversible structural changes and that both glycine betaine and trimethylamine-N-oxide have kinetically detectable counteracting effects.

Putative osmolytes in the kidney of the Australian brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula.

The Australian brush-tailed possum, Trichosurus vulpecula, is capable of producing a moderately concentrated urine, at least up to 1300 mOsm l(-1). Kidneys of adult animals fed in captivity on a normal diet with ready access to water were analysed. The inner medullary regions were found to have moderately high concentrations of sodium (outer medulla, 367+/-37; inner medulla 975+/-93 mmol kg(-1) dry wt.), chloride (outer medulla 240+/-21; inner medulla 701+/-23 mmol kg(-1) dry wt.) and urea (outer medulla, 252+/-62; inner medulla, 714+/-69 mmol kg(-1) protein). When the animals were fed on a 'wet diet', amounts of these substances in the outer medulla and cortex were reduced, although with the exception of urea these changes were not significant. There were highly significant changes in amounts of Na(+), Cl(-) and urea in the inner medulla (Na(+), 566+/-7; Cl(-), 422+/-9 mmol kg(-1) dry wt.; urea 393+/-84 mmol kg(-1) protein). Likewise, the inner medulla of animals fed a 'dry diet' with limited access to water showed highly significant increases in the same substances (Na(+), 1213+/-167; Cl(-), 974+/-137 mmol kg(-1) dry wt.; urea, 1672+/-98 mmol kg(-1) protein). Inositol was found in the outer medulla (224+/-90 mmol kg(-1) protein) and inner medulla (282 mmol kg(-1) protein) as was sorbitol (outer medulla, 62+/-20; inner medulla, 274+/-72 mmol kg(-1) protein). Both these polyols were reduced in amount in renal tissue from 'wet diet' animals, and increased in 'dry diet' animals, but the changes were not statistically significant. The methylamines, betaine and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), showed a similar pattern, but both were significantly elevated in the inner medulla of 'dry diet' animals (betaine 154+/-57 to 315+/-29 mmol kg(-1) protein; GPC 35+/-7 to 47+/-10 mmol kg(-1) protein). It was concluded that in this marsupial the concentrating mechanism probably functions in a similar way to that in higher mammals, and that the mechanism of osmoprotection of the medulla of the kidney involves the same osmolytes. However, the high ratio of betaine to GPC in the inner medulla resembles the situation in the avian kidney.

The effects of hypoosmotic infusion on the composition of renal tissue of the Australian brush-tailed possum Trichosurus vulpecula.

Although the occurrence of organic osmolytes in the inner medulla of the marsupial kidney has been recently reported [Comp. Biochem. Physiol. (2002) 132B 635-644], changes in these substances, in response to water loading in vivo, has not been studied. Adult Trichosurus vulpecula, the Australian brush-tailed possum, were subjected to water deprivation for 48 h. Following anaesthesia and unilateral nephrectomy, the animals were perfused with hypo-osmotic saline (80 mmol l(-1); 1.5 ml min(-1)) for 60 min. This resulted in a rapid increase in urine volume and a corresponding fall in urine osmolality. At the end of the infusion the animals were killed and the second kidney removed. Analysis of the renal tissue revealed that water content of cortical, outer and inner medullary regions of the kidney increased slightly following infusion, while sodium, and chloride contents of all three regions fell. Potassium contents, on the other hand, were barely changed. Of the organic osmolytes determined, very significant decreases in the inner medulla, following infusion, were found for sorbitol (from 397+/-79 to 266+/-49 mmol kg(-1) protein), inositol (247+/-23 to 190+/-25 mmol kg(-1) protein), and betaine (464+/-70 to 356+/-21 mmol kg(-1) protein), while only inositol was significantly decreased in the outer medulla (197+/-22 to 150+/-16 mmol kg(-1) protein). Glycerophosphorylcholine levels were low throughout the kidney and were not significantly affected by the infusion. It was concluded that inositol and sorbitol play a significant role as compatible organic osmolytes in the possum kidney, while betaine functions as the principal counteracting osmolyte. Amino acid levels in the cortex and outer medulla showed no overall change in amount following infusion, although there were highly significant changes in individual amino acids. In the inner medulla there was a highly significant reduction in total amino acids with infusion, largely due to a fall in amounts of taurine (104+/-4 to 75+/-17 mmol kg(-1) protein), and glycine (97+/-15 to 71+/-18 mmol kg(-1) protein). A fall in free amino acid levels in the inner medulla appears to significantly contribute to the process of intracellular osmotic adjustment during an induced diuresis.

31P and 1H NMR studies of the effect of the counteracting osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide on interactions of urea with ribonuclease A.

31P NMR spectroscopy has been used to show that the activity of RNase A, which is lowered in the presence of urea, can be recovered with trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). A 1:1 ratio of TMAO:urea was sufficient to recover the enzyme activity. (1)H nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy NMR studies with RNase A have shown that even at relatively low effective concentrations of TMAO, some modification of the three-dimensional structure of the biomolecule is apparent.

Cold inhibition of cell volume regulation during the freezing of insect malpighian tubules.

Cells in freeze-tolerant tissues must survive substantial shrinkage during exposure to the hyperosmolarity that results as solutes are excluded from extracellular ice. We investigated the possibility that this hyperosmotic shock elicits an acute regulatory volume increase (RVI) by monitoring the response of epithelial cell volume in the Malpighian tubules of the New Zealand alpine weta (Hemideina maori) during exposure to low temperature/hyperosmolarity (mimicking freezing conditions) or during an actual freeze/thaw cycle. The cross-sectional area of cells in isolated Malpighian tubules was measured using differential interference contrast microscopy. At 20 degrees C, cells held in saline containing 400 mmol1-1 glucose exhibit an RVI in response to hyperosmotic shock. Cross-sectional area decreased by 30% immediately after a change from iso-osmotic (0.7 osmol1-1) to hyper-osmotic saline (2.1 osmol1-1, equal to the osmotic shock encountered during freezing to -4 degrees C) and then returned to 21% below the control value 30 min after the exposure. Although substantial cellular function of Malpighian tubules was retained at low temperature (the rate of fluid secretion by isolated tubules at 4 degrees C was 72% of that measured at 20 degrees C), no RVI was observed at 0% degrees C; cross-sectional area was 39% below the control value immediately after the hyperosmotic exposure and 36% below the control value 30 min after hyperosmotic exposure. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP potentiated the RVI observed at 20 degrees C, but failed to elicit an RVI at 0 degrees C. A substantial RVI was also absent when the saline contained trehalose rather than glucose, regardless of whether the tubules were held at 20 degrees C or 0 degrees C. The cross-sectional area of cells in saline containing glucose remained at approximately 30% below the control value during an entire 30 min period of actual freezing to -4 degrees C, suggesting that an acute volume regulatory response was in fact inhibited during mild freezing. The inhibition of an acute RVI during mild freezing may serve to avoid the energetic expenditure associated with volume regulation at a time when the normal defence of cell volume appears to be unnecessary.

Water does not flow across the tight junctions of MDCK cell epithelium.

Although it has been known for decades that the tight junctions of fluid-transporting epithelia are leaky to ions, it has not been possible to determine directly whether significant transjunctional water movement also occurs. An optical microscopic technique was developed for the direct visualization of the flow velocity profiles within the lateral intercellular spaces of a fluid-absorptive, cultured renal epithelium (MDCK) and used to determine the velocity of the fluid flow across the tight junction. The flow velocity within the lateral intercellular spaces fell to near zero adjacent to the tight junction, showing that significant transjunctional flow did not occur, even when transepithelial fluid movement was augmented by imposition of osmotic gradients.

Electrochemical characteristics of ion secretion in malpighian tubules of the New Zealand alpine weta (Hemideina maori).

Characteristics of ion and fluid secretion were investigated in isolated Malpighian tubules of the New Zealand Alpine Weta (Hemideina maori). Fluid secretion by tubules in iso-osmotic saline (500mOsm) occurred at a rate of 15+/-3nlh(-1) and was enriched in K(+) (approx. 125mmoll(-1)) relative to the saline (10mmoll(-1)). Maximal fluid secretion (112nlh(-1)) during simultaneous exposure to hypo-osmolality and dibutyryl cAMP resulted in an 8.8x increase in the quantity of K(+) secreted, compared to only a 2.4x increase in Na(+) secretion. Measurements of intracellular ion activities and membrane potentials indicated that Na(+) and K(+) were transported against a strong electrochemical gradient across the apical surface, regardless of saline osmolality. On the basolateral surface, there was a large driving force for Na(+) entry, while K(+) was distributed near its equilibrium potential. Neither bumetanide nor ouabain in the bathing saline had a significant effect on fluid secretion, but Ba(2+) and amiloride decreased fluid secretion by 79 and 57%, respectively. The effect of Ba(2+) on fluid secretion was consistent with a high basolateral permeability to K(+), relative to Na(+) and Cl(-). These results indicate that the characteristics of fluid secretion in this primitive insect are largely conserved with characteristics reported for other insects.

Stabilization of supercooled fluids by thermal hysteresis proteins.

It has been reported that thermal hysteresis proteins found in many cold-hardy, freeze-avoiding arthropods stabilize their supercooled body fluids. We give evidence that fish antifreeze proteins, which also produce thermal hysteresis, bind to and reduce the efficiency of heterogenous nucleation sites, rather than binding to embryonic ice nuclei. We discuss both possible mechanisms for stabilization of supercooled body fluids and also describe a new method for measuring and defining the supercooling point of small volumes of liquid.

Organic osmolytes in the kidney of domesticated red deer, Cervus elaphus.

The cortex, inner and outer medulla, and papilla of kidneys of domestic red deer were analysed. In hydrated animals the urine concentration was found to be 672 +/- 45 mOsm.l-1. The medullary and papillary regions of the kidney were rich in the osmolytes betaine, glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC), inositol and sorbitol, all of which showed a steep rise in concentration from cortex to papilla. The kidney was rich in free amino acids, in particular taurine, glutamate (+glutamine), glycine and alanine, which were present at concentrations sufficient to suggest a possible role as osmolytes.

Resistive properties of the epithelial membranes of the urinary bladder of the toad, Bufo marinus, determined using the fluorescent dye, RH160.

A technique is described for quantitative epifluorescence studies of the apical membrane of the epithelial cells of the urinary bladder of the toad, Bufo marinus, using the lipid-soluble dye, RH160. When the urinary bladder is appropriately mounted, fluorescence signals, in response to a transepithelial voltage pulse, can be recorded from the epithelium immediately after the addition of the dye to the mucosal bath, and for some hours subsequently. The optical signal, recorded as the change in fluorescence in response to a transepithelial voltage pulse, as a fraction of resting fluorescence, was found to be a linear function of the applied voltage over the range +/- 200 mV, and was approximately 3% for a 100 mV change in transepithelial potential. The signal was enhanced by amiloride (10 mumol.l-1), reduced by bretylium (5 mmol.l-1) and abolished in the presence of nystatin (730 U.ml-1). Calculations based on these data permitted estimation of the fractional resistance of the apical membrane, which was found to be 0.85 under control conditions. Apical membrane resistance was 8.6 k omega.microF, and the basolateral membrane resistance was 1.5 k omega.microF. These findings support the conclusion that the apical membrane of toad urinary bladder epithelial cells is of high resistance, thus resembling other sodium-transporting epithelia.

Effects of ADH on the apical and basolateral membranes of toad urinary bladder epithelial cells.

Short-circuited urinary bladders from Bufo marinus were supported on their apical surface by an agar mounting method and impaled with microelectrodes via their basolateral membrane. This arrangement provided stable and long-lasting impalements of epithelial cells and yielded reliable membrane potentials and voltage divider ratios (Ra/Rb), where Ra and Rb are apical and basolateral membrane resistances respectively. The membrane potential under short-circuit conditions (Vsc) was -51.4 +/- 2.2 mV (n = 59), while under open-circuit conditions apical membrane potential (Va) and basolateral membrane potential (Vb) were -31.0 +/- 2.4 and 59.5 +/- 2.4 mV, respectively. This yields a "well-shaped" potential profile across the toad urinary bladder, where Va is inversely related to the rate of transport, Isc. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) produced a hyperpolarisation of Vsc and Vb but had no significant effect on Va. In addition, Ra/Rb was significantly increased by ADH (4.6 +/- 0.5 to 10.2 +/- 3.6). Calculation of individual membrane resistances following the addition of amiloride showed that ADH produced a parallel decrease in Ra and Rb membrane resistance, with the observed increase in Ra/Rb being due to a greater percentage decrease in Rb than in Ra. The ability of ADH to effect parallel changes in apical and basolateral membrane conductance helps to maintain a constant cellular volume despite an increase in transepithelial transport.

Response of tissues of the rat to anisosmolality in vivo.

Rats were exposed to osmotic stress either acutely, over periods of 1 or 4 h, or chronically, over several days. In acute experiments, hyposmolality was induced by intraperitoneal infusion of dilute glucose or mannitol solutions, whereas hyperosmolality was induced by use of sodium chloride, concentrated glucose or mannitol solutions, or urea. Chronic hypernatremia was induced by daily administration of sodium chloride to water-deprived animals; chronic hyponatremia was induced by daily injection of antidiuretic hormone supplemented with glucose. Animals were made hyperglycemic using streptozotocin or uremic by ureteral ligation. Where appropriate, animals were anesthetized with thiobutabarbital (Inaktin) or ether. In acute experiments, analysis of the composition of the cardiac ventricle, diaphragm, liver, and renal cortex showed no evidence of cell volume regulatory processes involving transmembrane movement of potassium ions. There was a small but significant increase in free amino acids [measured as ninhydrin-positive substance (NPS)] in cardiac muscle exposed to hypertonic solutions of sodium chloride and glucose but not when plasma osmolality was raised using mannitol. In cerebral cortical tissue, after 4 h of exposure to acute hypertonicity by infusion of sodium chloride or glucose, there was a significant increase in tissue potassium content and a slight increase in NPS content. In chronic experiments, tissue analysis revealed good evidence for cellular volume readjustment only in cerebral cortex and heart. In the cortex, levels of free amino acids, principally taurine and glutamate (plus glutamine), showed large increases during hypernatremia and hyperglycemia and corresponding decreases during hyposmolality. In heart the principal amino acid present was taurine, and it, together with aspartate and glutamate (plus glutamine), showed large changes under osmotic stress. Other tissues analyzed showed only small changes in composition.

Microelectrode studies of toad urinary bladder epithelial cells using a novel mounting method.

To optimise the conditions for recording stable membrane potentials, epithelial cells of short-circuited toad bladders were impaled via either their apical or basolateral membranes. Microelectrode impalements via the apical membrane were affected by impalement damage and were typically biphasic, consisting of an initial sharp increase in apical membrane potential (Vsc of around -26 mV), followed by a rapid depolarization of Vsc towards 0 mV in the next 10-20 s. To facilitate basolateral impalement two different methods for mounting bladders were tested. Both mounting methods yielded similar values for Vsc and Ra/Rb (the ratio of apical to basolateral membrane resistance) of around -57 mV and 5, respectively, which were larger than those recorded via the apical membrane and consistent with potential measurements from other tight epithelial tissues. Of the two basolateral mounting methods tested, the agar method gave the most stable impalements, making it possible to use amiloride and Ba2+ to assess for impalement damage. In conclusion, basolateral impalements of agar-mounted toad bladders makes this traditionally difficult tissue amenable to microelectrode studies.

1H-NMR and HPLC studies of the changes involved in volume regulation in the muscle fibres of the crab, Hemigrapsus edwardsi.

1. The process of cell volume readjustment, during adaptation to salinity changes, in muscle fibres of the euryhaline New Zealand shore crab, Hemigrapsus edwardsi, involve large changes in the amounts of free amino acid. 2. These are taurine, proline, alanine, arginine, glutamic acid, glycine and serine. 3. These changes may be quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and qualitatively demonstrated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The effects of a hyperosmotic challenge in vivo on tissue composition of rat cardiac and skeletal muscle.

The effects of hyperosmotic stress under both acute and chronic conditions were investigated in two types of rat muscle tissue: cardiac and skeletal. Under acute conditions of a 4-h infusion, both types of muscle behaved as osmometers. However, under chronic hyperosmotic stress (several days), skeletal muscle behaved as predicted as an osmometer, but cardiac muscle did not. The levels of free amino acids in this tissue increased markedly--in particular, taurine. This phenomenon is discussed with respect to the capacity of this tissue for volume regulation.

The antihypertensive effects of doxazosin: a clinical overview.

Doxazosin is a long-acting selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist which has been shown to be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of hypertension given in once-daily doses as monotherapy for up to 1 year or as an adjunct to thiazide or beta-adrenoceptor blockers. Doxazosin has a pharmacokinetic profile in both young adult and elderly subjects which is compatible with once-daily administration. This has been confirmed by measurement of steady state pharmacokinetics in patients receiving long-term doxazosin therapy. In controlled double-blind studies involving approximately 550 patients on doxazosin 1-16 mg once daily, significant reductions in both standing and supine BP were maintained throughout the 24 h dosing interval. Effectiveness of doxazosin in terms of BP lowering and proportion of responders was similar to that achieved with hydrochlorothiazide 25-100 mg once daily, atenolol 50-100 mg once daily, nadolol 40-160 mg once daily, metoprolol 100-200 mg per day given twice daily, or prazosin 1-20 mg per day given twice daily. Doxazosin was as effective in elderly patients as in the younger age group and was as effective in blacks as in caucasians. Doxazosin was well tolerated. Side-effects were generally mild to moderate in severity. Overall incidence, including postural effects early in treatment, was similar to that seen with the comparative agents. In comparison with placebo, doxazosin favourably increased (P less than 0.05) the HDL/total cholesterol ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)