Potential role of purinergic signaling in urinary concentration in inner medulla: insights from P2Y2 receptor gene knockout mice

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2008 Dec;295(6):F1715-24. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.90311.2008. Epub 2008 Oct 1.

Abstract

Osmotic reabsorption of water through aquaporin-2 (AQP2) in the inner medulla is largely dependent on the urea concentration gradients generated by urea transporter (UT) isoforms. Vasopressin (AVP) increases expression of both AQP2 and UT-A isoforms. Activation of the P2Y2 receptor (P2Y2-R) in the medullary collecting duct inhibits AVP-induced water flow. To gain further insights into the overarching effect of purinergic signaling on urinary concentration, we compared the protein abundances of AQP2 and UT-A isoforms between P2Y2-R knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice under basal conditions and following AVP administration. Under basal conditions (a gel diet for 10 days), KO mice concentrated urine to a significantly higher degree, with 1.8-, 1.66-, and 1.29-fold higher protein abundances of AQP2, UT-A1, and UT-A2, respectively, compared with WT, despite comparable circulating AVP levels in both groups. Infusion of 1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin (dDAVP; desmopressin; 1 ng/h sc) for 5 days resulted in 2.14-, 2.6-, and 2.22-fold higher protein abundances of AQP2, AQP3, and UT-A1, respectively, in the inner medullas of KO mice compared with WT mice. In response to acute (45 min) stimulation by AVP (0.2 unit/mouse sc), UT-A1 protein increased by 1.39- and 1.54-fold in WT and KO mice, respectively. These data suggest that genetic deletion of P2Y2-R results in increased abundances of key proteins involved in urinary concentration in the inner medulla, both under basal conditions and following AVP administration. Thus purinergic regulation may play a potential overarching role in balancing the effect of AVP on the urinary concentration mechanism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Animals
  • Aquaporin 2 / physiology
  • Aquaporin 3 / physiology
  • Aquaporin 4 / physiology
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / pharmacology
  • Kidney Medulla / drug effects
  • Kidney Medulla / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2 / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2 / physiology
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2
  • Vasopressins / pharmacology

Substances

  • Aqp2 protein, mouse
  • Aqp3 protein, mouse
  • Aqp4 protein, mouse
  • Aquaporin 2
  • Aquaporin 4
  • P2ry2 protein, mouse
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2Y2
  • Vasopressins
  • Aquaporin 3
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin