Inhibition of endogenous nitric oxide synthesis activates particulate guanylyl cyclase in the rat renal glomeruli.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in the regulation of kidney function and metabolism. Our previous study showed that dexamethasone, one of several known selective inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS), had a stimulatory effect on soluble guanylyl cyclase in the glomeruli of rat kidney. However, in the presence of dexamethasone, the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF)-dependent system remained suppressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether inhibition of synthesis of endogenous NO modulates the activity of the guanylyl cyclase system(s) in glomeruli. In these studies, rats were injected with a non-selective NOS inhibitor, N-omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME; NAME-group), or saline solution (controls; C-group). Creatinine clearance (C(Cr)), and plasma and urinary nitrate/nitrite (NOx-) levels decreased in the NAME-group, but plasma and urinary guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) contents were unchanged. In the presence of 0.1 microM ANF, synthesis of cGMP in the NAME-group exceeded threefold the cGMP production in the C-group. In addition, the pre-contracted glomeruli of the NAME-group were fully relaxed at 0.1 microM ANF, but glomeruli obtained from the C-group were relaxed in the presence of a 10 times higher dose of ANF. The increased sensitivity of glomeruli to ANF was possibly due to the more than doubled activity of particulate guanylyl cyclase (pGC) in the NAME-group in comparison with the C-group. In the presence of 100 microM sodium nitroprusside (SNP), soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) generated significantly lower cGMP production in the NAME-group than in the C-group (1.61 +/- 0.33 vs. 2.91 +/- 0.69 nmol/mg protein/10 min, respectively). These results demonstrate that inhibition of the synthesis of endogenous NO may also have an inhibitory effect on the activity of sGC. In addition, increased activity of the pGC and ANF-dependent system appears to be compensatory to the altered activity of soluble guanylyl cyclase.

Stimulatory effect of calcium on metabolism and its sensitivity to pH in kidney mitochondria.

The relationship between mitochondrial matrix free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]m) and pH was evaluated by incubating isolated rat kidney mitochondria with different extramitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]e) at medium pH (pHe) 7.0 and 7.4. [Ca2+]m was monitored using the fluorescent signal from mitochondria loaded with the Ca2+ indicator fura 2. The changes in [Ca2+]m were compared with alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alpha-KGDH) flux, measured as O2 consumption (nmol.min-1.mg protein-1) from 185 microM alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG). The apparent dissociation constant of the matrix fluorescent probe for Ca2+ was determined in each experiment and was 323 +/- 45 nM (n = 14). When mitochondria were exposed to [Ca2+]e below 160 nM, [Ca2+]m was greater at pHe 7.0 than at pHe 7.4. However, above 160 nM [Ca2+]e, [Ca2+]m plateaued at pHe 7.0 but rose progressively at pHe 7.4. Increasing [Ca2+]m by consecutive additions of Ca2+ to the medium had a significantly more pronounced acceleratory effect on alpha-KG oxidation at pHe 7.0 than at pHe 7.4. Kinetic analysis of alpha-KGDH revealed a 45% decrease in the Michaelis constant (Km) for alpha-KG at pHe 7.0, but the Km was unchanged at pHe 7.4 with elevation of [Ca2+]m from 32 to 751 nM. Maximal velocity (Vmax) increased significantly at both pHe values. Half-maximal alpha-KG oxidation occurred at [Ca2+]m of 76 +/- 11 nM and 105 +/- 31 nM at pHe 7.0 and 7.4, respectively. These studies demonstrate a direct, pH-sensitive correlation between [Ca2+]e and [Ca2+]m; [Ca2+]m changed over a range that may regulate alpha-KGDH flux in intact kidney mitochondria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of glutamine metabolism in dog kidney cortex: effect of pH and chronic acidosis.

To examine the interrelationships of proton compartmentation and ammoniagenesis, experiments were performed in tubules and mitochondria isolated from dog kidney cortex. Tubules were incubated in Krebs-Henseleit buffer at different pH (pHe), and cytosolic pH (pHi) was estimated with the fluorescent probe 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein. Mitochondrial pH (pHm) was determined simultaneously in intact tubules by use of dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione. Over the pHe range 6.9-7.7, pHi was similar in control and acidotic dogs and linearly related to pHe. At pHe 7.4 in control tubules. pHm was 7.78 +/- 0.07, and varied little over the pHe range of 7.0-7.7. The pH gradient across the mitochondrial membrane rose at acid pHe. pHm was more alkaline when estimated in tubules from acidotic dogs compared with controls. Ammonium and glucose productions from glutamine were inversely related to pHe and pHi in tubules from both control and acidotic animals and were higher in acidosis. In contrast, ammonium production by isolated mitochondria did not vary as pHe was altered. Enzyme fluxes, calculated from metabolite changes, demonstrated that glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) flux was altered. Enzyme fluxes, calculated from metabolite changes, demonstrated that glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) flux was inversely and glutaminase (PDG) flux was linearly related to pHe. Ammonium production was significantly greater in mitochondria from acidotic dogs because of accelerated flux through PDG but not GDH. The present study demonstrates significant difference between proton compartmentation and regulation of ammoniagenesis in kidneys from acidotic dog compared with rat.

Prevention of myocardial intracellular edema induced by St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution.

During cardiac surgery, the heart is infused with cold crystalloid cardioplegic solutions such as St. Thomas' Hospital (StT) solution, which contains high concentrations of K+ and Mg2+. The high K+ and Mg2+ block impulse conduction and inhibit Ca2+ influx, thereby arresting the heart and reducing cardiac oxygen consumption. Nevertheless, myocardial edema and post-operative abnormalities have been noted after cardioplegia and attributed to ischemia and reflow or to hypothermia. We found, however, that cold StT (9 degrees C) was hypotonic and induced cell swelling in the absence of ischemic injury. Cell swelling in cold StT was not due to hypothermia alone, but rather was caused by KCl influx and was prevented by partially replacing Cl- with an impermeant anion. After exposure to cold StT, cells transiently shrank to less than control volume on rewarming in physiological saline (Tyrode's solution, 37 degrees C). The transient shrinkage was blocked by ouabain suggesting that Na+ loading of depolarized hypothermic cells and Na(+)-K+ pump activation on rewarming were responsible. Hypothermic ventricular cells seem to follow Donnan equilibrium, and the product of [K+] x [Cl-] in cardioplegic solutions affects cell volume in the absence of ischemic injury.

Regulation of cellular volume in rabbit ventricular myocytes: bumetanide, chlorothiazide, and ouabain.

Video microscopy was used to study the regulation of cell volume in isolated rabbit ventricular myocytes. Myocytes rapidly (less than or equal to 2 min) swelled and shrank in hyposmotic and hyperosmotic solutions, respectively, and this initial volume response was maintained without a regulatory volume decrease or increase for 20 min. Relative cell volumes (normalized to isosmotic solution, 1T) were as follows: 1.41 +/- 0.01 in 0.6T, 1.20 +/- 0.04 in 0.8T, 0.71 +/- 0.04 in 1.8T, and 0.57 +/- 0.03 in 2.6T. These volume changes were significantly less than expected if all of the measured volume was osmotically active water. Changes in width and thickness were significantly greater than changes in cell length. The idea that cotransport contributes to cell volume regulation was tested by inhibiting Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- cotransport with bumetanide (BUM) and Na(+)-Cl- cotransport with chlorothiazide (CTZ). Under isotonic conditions, a 10-min exposure to BUM (1 microM), CTZ (100 microM), or BUM (10 microM) plus CTZ (100 microM) decreased relative cell volume to 0.87 +/- 0.01, 0.86 +/- 0.02, and 0.82 +/- 0.04, respectively. BUM plus CTZ also modified the response to osmotic stress. Swelling in 2.6T medium was 76% greater and shrinkage in 0.6T medium was 29% less than in the absence of diuretics. In contrast to the rapid effects of diuretics, inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ pump with 10 microM ouabain for 20 min did not affect cell volume in 1T solution. Nevertheless, ouabain decreased swelling in 0.6T medium by 52% and increased shrinkage in 1.8T medium by 34%. These data suggest that under isotonic conditions Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- and Na(+)-Cl- cotransport are critical in establishing cell volume, but osmoregulation can compensate for Na(+)-K+ pump inhibition for at least 20 min. Under anisotonic conditions, the Na(+)-K+ pump and Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- and/or Na(+)-Cl- cotransport are important in myocyte volume regulation.

pH in principal cells of frog skin (Rana pipiens): effects of amiloride and potential.

Intracellular pH (pHi) and apical cell membrane potential (Va) were determined in principal cells of frog skin (Rana pipiens) with double-barrel micro-electrodes. In the Northern and Southern varieties, respectively, pHi is 0.38 and 0.26 pH units below bath pH. Amiloride, applied apically, causes reversible intracellular acidification at concentrations of 10(-5) M or higher. Voltage clamp-induced hyperpolarization and depolarization of Va result in intracellular acidification and alkalinization, respectively. This response of pHi is inhibited or abolished when the apical side is treated with 10(-3) M 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Amiloride-induced intracellular acidification is not exclusively due to the hyperpolarization of Va that accompanies amiloride treatment since 1) amiloride causes greater acidification than equivalent voltage clamp-induced hyperpolarization of Va, 2) amiloride-induced acidification persists in DIDS-treated tissues, and 3) there is no correlation between hyperpolarization of Va and intracellular acidification occurring after amiloride. We conclude that pHi is below the extracellular pH. Amiloride causes intracellular acidification that may be in part connected with hyperpolarization of Va. However, a major component of amiloride-induced acidification is due to other factors, possibly inhibition of apical Na+-H+ exchange. The inhibitory effect of apically applied DIDS suggests that the voltage dependent changes in pHi are related to movement of HCO3 (or OH) ions across the apical cell membrane.

pH in principal cells of frog skin (Rana pipiens): dependence on extracellular Na+.

Measurements of intracellular pH (pHi) and of apical cell membrane potential (Va) were made in principal cells of frog skin (Rana pipiens) with double-barrel microelectrodes under open-circuit conditions. The tissues were pretreated with stilbenes (10(-3) M) and bathed in HCO3- -free NaCl Ringer solution that was buffered with 6 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (pH 7.8). Substitution of extracellular Na+ on both sides of the epithelium with N-methyl-D-glucamine caused intracellular acidification by 0.27 pH units. Restoration of Na+ on the apical side alone or on both sides caused a pHi recovery of 0.24 and 0.28 pH units, respectively, whereas return of Na+ on the basolateral side caused no recovery. Recovery of pHi on restoration of Na+ to the apical side was prevented by 10(-5) M 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride. In individual preparations there was no correlation between pHi recovery due to return of apical Na+ and changes in Va. The average change in pHi was several times greater than the one expected from voltage clamp-induced changes in Va at constant extracellular Na+. The results suggest the presence of a Na+-H+ exchange on the apical side of principal cells. Such a process could be part of a negative feedback mechanism for regulation of Na+ entry via apical Na+ channels into principal cells.

Effect of changes in extracellular Cl on intracellular Cl activity in frog skin.

Intracellular Cl activity was measured in isolated frog skin (Rana pipiens) with double-barrel microelectrodes. The initial rate of Cl uptake was measured in Cl-depleted cells on reexposure to Cl on apical or basolateral side. In skins with high and low conductance, cell CL activity increased 1.33 and 0.14 mM/s with apical reexposure and 5.03 and 0.30 mM/s with basolateral reexposure, respectively. The initial Cl uptake was reduced on the apical side by 93% with 10(-3) M DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid) and on the basolateral side by 99% with 10(-3) M SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid) plus 10(-5) M bumetanide. The initial rate of Cl loss was measured when Cl was removed from the bath: addition of HCO3 to Cl- and HCO3-free solution caused an acceleration of Cl loss in absence but not in presence of DIDS on apical side. In contrast, Cl loss across the basolateral side was not enhanced by HCO3. In conclusion, Na-transporting cells have a substantial Cl permeability on both sides. HCO3-stimulated Cl loss provides evidence for Cl-HCO3 exchange and permits localization of this process in apical cell membranes of granular cells.

Potential dependence of unidirectional chloride fluxes across isolated frog skin.

Isolated frog skins were voltage clamped at transepithelial potentials (Vt) ranging from -60 mV to 60 mV to measure transepithelial 36Cl- fluxes from the apical to the basolateral bathing solution (J13) and in the opposite direction (J31). The potential dependence of fluxes obtained in Na+-free choline Ringer's indicates the presence of conductive and nonconductive components that probably correspond to fluxes through paracellular and cellular pathways, respectively. Rectification of fluxes with reversal of the potential reflects a structural asymmetry, presumably in surface charge density. The data are consistent with a charge density of one negative charge per 280 A2 on the apical side. A new model for passive Cl- transport was developed that includes surface charge asymmetry and specifically accounts for the observed variation of conductance with potential. In normal frog Ringer's, J13 was larger than J31 at zero potential (active Cl- transport), J13 rose exponentially with increasing positive potential to reach a maximum at 40 mV (approximately open-circuit), and the predicted partial Cl- conductance exceeded the measured conductance leading to the conclusion that when J13 is largely driven by Na+ transport, much of the coupling occurs via nonconductive pathways. Theophylline stimulates Cl- transport that also occurs via nonconductive pathways as Vt becomes more positive.

Active transport and exchange diffusion of Cl across the isolated skin of Rana pipiens.

Transepithelial Cl influx and efflux were measured in pairs of frog skin (Rana pipiens) matched according to short-circuit current, tissue conductance, and transepithelial potential (TEP). The skins were bathed symmetrically in NaCl Ringer and voltage clamped at TEP values ranging from -60 to +60 mV. At 0 TEP, Cl influx and net inward Cl movement (in neq X h-1 X cm-2) were, respectively, 961 +/- 116 and 463 +/- 68 in NaCl Ringer, 509 +/- 52 and 202 +/- 53 in amiloride-treated skins, 4,168 +/- 777 and 1,444 +/- 447 in theophylline-treated skins, and 587 +/- 38 and 97 +/- 44 in Na-free Ringer. A correlation was discovered between short-circuit current and Cl fluxes corresponding to a 2:6:1 relationship between changes in active Na transport and active Cl transport. Deviations from the predicted Cl flux ratio indicate the presence of exchange diffusion in the range of spontaneously occurring TEPs, in contrast to observations on R. temporaria and R. esculenta. The experiments indicate that a substantial portion of transepithelial Cl movement proceeds transcellularly 1) via active Cl transport that is Na dependent, amiloride sensitive, stimulated by theophylline, and apparently correlated with active Na transport, and 2) by means of exchange diffusion that not only occurs under short-circuit conditions but also at positive TEPs. It is possible to explain both the exchange diffusion and the properties of active Cl transport by a Cl-HCO3 exchange system at the apical side of the transporting cell that interacts with a Na-H exchange mechanism, a notion consistent with the recent observation of an amiloride-induced decrease in intracellular pH.

Intracellular Cl activity changes of frog skin.

The intracellular Cl activity and potential were determined in short-circuited frog skin with single-barrel microelectrodes. With NaCl Ringer solution on the apical and basolateral side, the intracellular Cl activity was 15.5 +/- 0.5 mM and the intracellular potential was -90 +/- 1.0 mV, indicating that the intracellular Cl activity was above electrochemical equilibrium. When the solution on the apical side was changed to a Cl-free solution (Cl replaced by methanesulfonate), no significant difference was observed in intracellular Cl activity. However, when the skins were Cl-depleted by replacing the NaCl Ringer solution on both sides with a Cl-free solution, the intracellular Cl activity decreased to 1.7 +/- 0.1 mM and the intracellular potential fell to -66.7 +/- 1.3 mV. Addition of Cl (i.e., NaCl Ringer solution) to the apical side of Cl-depleted skins caused a significant increase in intracellular Cl activity to 6.3 mM. This increase was prevented by amiloride (10(-4) M) added on the apical side simultaneously with Cl. Restoration of Cl on the basolateral side of Cl-depleted tissues also raised the intracellular Cl activity to about the same level as when Cl was added on the apical side (6.8 mM). Changes in membrane potential occurred in a delayed fashion over a period of 15 min or more when Cl was added or removed on either side of the skin. The absence of an immediate membrane potential response indicates that Cl conductance is not detectable. We conclude, therefore, that the Cl transfer across the apical and basolateral cell membrane occurs primarily via electroneutral mechanisms.

Reversible resistance to the phosphaturic effect of db-cAMP in lithium-treated rats.

Acute lithium administration (5 mmol/kg b.w.) to parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats induces extracellular acidosis, lower plasma phosphate concentration and increased phosphate reabsorption. The present studies evaluate the effect of lithium administration on tissue phosphate distribution, metabolites content in the kidneys and renal phosphate, 2-oxoglutarate and citrate transport in the presence and absence of db-cyclic AMP. Lithium decreased plasma and renal phosphate concentrations and increased phosphate concentration in the skeletal muscle, db-cyclic AMP was not phosphaturic in lithium-treated PTX rats. In PTX rats infused with 20 mM phosphate lithium depressed fractional phosphate excretion induced by db-cyclic AMP from 20 +/- 0.3% to 3.2 +/- 1.0%. However, metabolic or respiratory acidosis restored the responsiveness to db-cyclic AMP. Citraturia and ketoaciduria induced by lithium were depressed in db-cyclic AMP-treated rats. Kidney citrate and 2-oxoglutarate concentrations increased drastically, ATP level fell significantly whereas cAMP content did not change after lithium. We conclude that lithium administration increases phosphate uptake by the muscle which largely accounts for hypophosphatemia. The kidney responds with increased phosphate reabsorption independent of plasma and kidney phosphate concentrations, and with refractoriness to the phosphaturic effects of db-cyclic AMP. Acute lithium administration to rats induces extracellular acidosis and, probably, renal intracellular alkalosis as reflected by citraturia and ketoaciduria as well as the renal metabolite profile. The phosphaturic responsiveness to db-cyclic AMP is dependent, at least in part, on intracellular pH.