Cytoplasmic and nuclear binding of [3H]triamcinolone acetonide was assessed in isolated rat kidney cortical tubules, enriched in distal (fraction A) or in proximal segments (fraction B). The concentration dependence of specific [3H]triamcinolone acetonide binding in cytoplasm was determined (range = 4.4 X 10(-10) to 2.1 X 10(-7) M) and analyzed by a least-squares curve-fitting method. A single, high-affinity binding class with a dissociation constant of 1 X 10(-8) M (25 degrees C) was obtained in both fractions A and B. Based on competition for the [3H]triamcinolone acetonide sites, the following sequence of affinities was obtained: triamcinolone acetonide = dexamethasone > progesterone = corticosterone > d-aldosterone > 17 beta-estradiol. These specificities imply that these sites are glucocorticoid receptors. Fraction B contained 1.6 times more cytosol sites for [3H]triamcinolone acetonide than fraction A (5.0 +/- 0.5 X 10(-13) vs. 3.0 +/- 0.5 X 10(-13) mol/mg protein). In the presence of a onefold excess of d-aldosterone specific cytoplasmic binding of [3H]triamcinolone acetonide was 1.4-fold greater in fraction B than in fraction A, and specific nuclear binding was 1.3-fold greater in fraction B than in fraction A (5.1 +/- 0.6 X 10(-13) vs 4.0 +/- 0.5 X 10(-13) mol/mg DNA). These results and the measured lengths of proximal and distal tubules yielded estimates of a higher proximal content (three- to sixfold) compared to distal content of glucocorticoid receptors.

The effects of diazoxide and hydrochlorothiazide on vasopressin-induced increments in osmotic water flow and sodium transport across the frog bladder were studied. Diazoxide enhanced the vasopressin-induced osmotic water flow of the bladder, but did not affect the cyclic AMP- or theophylline-induced water flow. Hydrochlorothiazide did not affect the vasopressin-induced water flow. Our results suggest that diazoxide increased the water flow by inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase in bladder epithelial cells, whereas hydrochlorothiazide did not. On the other hand, both drugs suppressed the short-circuit current of the bladder membrane and inhibited the NaK-dependent ATPase activity of the kidney cells. These results suggest that both drugs decreased sodium transport in the bladder by inhibiting NaK-dependent ATPase activity.

No abstract

In the present study, we examined the effects of guanine nucleotides on vasopressin-induced osmotic water flow and sodium transport in the 14-h preincubated frog bladder. We also examined the effects of the adenylate cyclase-cyclic AMP and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase system in the bladder's epithelial cells. Gpp(NH)p significantly enhanced vasopressin-induced water flow while it did not affect cyclic AMP-induced water flow. However, Gpp(NH)p did not enhance the vasopressin-induced increment of sodium transport across the frog bladder. The adenylate cyclase activity of the crude homogenate was enhanced by vasopressin, Gpp(NH)p and NaF. The effects of Gpp(NH)p and vasopressin, at their maximum doses, on the enzyme activities were additive, while other combinations were not. Specific Gpp(NH)p binding sites were found in the pellet fraction after 2,400 X g centrifugation. No direct effect on the protein kinase activity was observed in the presence of 10(-6) M nucleotides, such as GTP, GDP, GMP, CTP, UTP, ITP and Gpp(NH)p. Cyclic AMP stimulated the phosphorylation of discrete protein bands, however, Gpp(NH)p did not influence cyclic AMP-dependent protein phosphorylation of crude homogenate of the bladder's epithelial cells. These results suggest the guanine nucleotides stimulate the vasopressin-induced osmotic water flow in frog bladder by enhancing the vasopressin-mediated adenylate cyclase activity, so that accumulated cyclic AMP might activate cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

1. The effects of reserpine and harman derivatives on the sodium transport across the frog bladder were examined using a short-circuit current method. The effects of harman derivatives on the Na,K-ATPase activity of the frog kidney were also investigated. 2. Reserpine and harman derivatives inhibited active sodium transport of the frog bladder and their inhibitory effect decreased as reserpine greater than harmine greater than harmaline = harman greater than harmalol. 3. Harman derivatives inhibited Na,K-ATPase activity of the frog kidney. 4. These results suggest that reserpine and harman derivatives inhibit active sodium transport by suppressing the Na,K-ATPase activity of the frog bladder.