α-2 And β-adrenergic receptors mediate NE's biphasic effects on rat thick ascending limb chloride flux

Abstract

The sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) influences renal sodium excretion via activation of adrenergic receptors. The thick ascending limb (THAL) possesses both α-2 and β-adrenergic receptors. However, the role(s) different adrenergic receptors play in how isolated THALs respond to NE are unclear. We tested the hypothesis that both α-2 and β-adrenergic receptors are responsive to NE in the isolated THAL, with α-2 receptors inhibiting and β-receptors stimulating chloride flux ( J Cl). THALs from male Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused in vitro, and the effects of 1) incremental NE, 2) the α-2 agonist clonidine, and 3) the β-agonist isoproterenol on J Cl were measured. Low concentrations (0.1 nM) of NE decreased J Clfrom a rate of 114.2 ± 8.1 to 93.5 ± 14.6 pmol · mm−1 · min−1( P < 0.05), with the nadir occurring at 1 nM (67.7 ± 8.8 pmol · mm−1 · min−1; P < 0.05). In contrast, greater concentrations of NE significantly increased J Cl from the nadir to a maximal rate of 131.0 ± 28.5 pmol · mm−1 · min−1 at 10 μM ( P < 0.05). To evaluate the adrenergic receptors mediating these responses, the THAL J Cl response to NE was measured in the presence of selective antagonists of β- and α-2 receptors. A concentration of NE (1 μM), which alone tended to increase J Cl, decreased THAL J Cl (from 148.9 ± 16.4 to 76.2 ± 13.6 pmol · mm−1 · min−1; P < 0.01) in the presence of the β-antagonist propranolol. In contrast, a concentration of NE (0.1 μM), which alone tended to decrease J Cl, increased THAL J Cl (from 85.5 ± 20.1 to 111.8 ± 20.1 pmol · mm−1 · min−1; P < 0.05) in the presence of the α-2 antagonist rauwolscine. To further clarify the role of different adrenergic receptors, selective adrenergic agonists were used. The α-2 agonist clonidine decreased J Cl from 102.4 ± 9.9 to 54.0 ± 15.7 pmol · mm−1 · min−1, a reduction of 49.1 ± 11.0% ( P < 0.02). In contrast, the β-agonist isoproterenol stimulated J Cl from 95.3 ± 11.6 to 144.1 ± 15.0 pmol · mm−1 · min−1, an increase of 56 ± 14% ( P < 0.01). We conclude that 1) the sympathetic neurotransmitter NE exerts concentration-dependent effects on J Cl in the isolated rat THAL, 2) selective α-2 receptor activation inhibits THAL J Cl, and 3) selective β-receptor activation stimulates THAL J Cl. These data indicate the response elicited by the isolated rat THAL to NE is dependent on the neurotransmitter concentration, such that application of NE in vitro biphasically modulates J Cl via differential activation of α-2 and β-adrenergic receptors in a concentration-dependent manner.