Sites of hormone action in the mammalian nephron

Abstract

Hormone-dependent adenylate cyclase activity was measured separately in the different nephron portions by combining the microdissection of collagenase-treated rabbit kidneys and the use of a single tubule enzyme microassay. The results obtained in the rabbit for vasopressin, parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, and isoproterenol are given and discussed. Each hormone stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in several well-localized segments of tubule according to a highly specific and reproducible pattern. Sharp transitions were generally noted between responsive and unresponsive nephron portions. In the rat kidney, the functional segmentation of the distal convoluted tubule was not as clearly delineated as in the rabbit kidney. Various nephron segments of the rat kidney were observed to contain glucagon-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity. When the results obtained for vasopressin are compared in rabbit, rat, mouse, and human kidneys, species differences are noted with respect to the responsiveness to arginine vasopressin in the medullary portion of thick ascending limbs of Henle's loops. It is concluded that biochemical approaches can be used as a means of investigating problems dealing with kidney physiology very near the cell level.