Differential distribution of the vasopressin V2 receptor along the rat nephron during renal ontogeny and maturation

Abstract

Expression of V(2)R is first detectable in the late embryonic stage of rat ontogeny starting from day E18 and gradually increasing with kidney maturation. In the adult kidney, V(2)R is differentially distributed in the various nephron segments.

Vasopressin V2receptor expression along rat, mouse, and human renal epithelia with focus on TAL

“…Medullary and cortical TAL, macula densa and post-macula segment, distal convolutions, CCD and MCD epithelia, and a subset of type A intercalated cells of the three species expressed V 2 R mRNA to distinct degrees of intensity, but with no major interspecies differences. Localization of V 2 R mRNA to these epithelia likely reflected sites of receptor biosynthesis, since parallel immunohistochemistry from this and previous work has provided comparable results, and functional studies have, in part, indicated regional heterogeneity in the renal response to AVP (20,35), immunohistochemistry (30,39), or in situ hybridization (32). We have extended the information on overall V 2 R mRNA distribution and its celltype assignment by analyzing mouse and human kidneys.…”

“…Previous work has presented information on V 2 R distribution across several mammalian species, but results have in part been inconclusive, and information on cell-type-specific localization of V 2 R biosynthesis is scarce (9,30,32,39,47). These studies showed solid V 2 R expression in the CD, with some reference to regional differences in intensity believed to reflect AVPinduced effects on the stimulation/insertion of AQP-2 and urea transporter(s) (4,28,36).…”

“…These studies showed solid V 2 R expression in the CD, with some reference to regional differences in intensity believed to reflect AVPinduced effects on the stimulation/insertion of AQP-2 and urea transporter(s) (4,28,36). Localization of V 2 R was further reported in rat kidney TAL (10,39) and macula densa (32); binding of oxytocin, which is structurally related to AVP, and expression of oxytocin receptor in macula densa as well (33,45) support a role for AVP and, possibly, oxytocin in the regulation of glomerular filtration rate (37). A recent study analyzing V 2 R distribution in mouse and human kidney confirmed V 2 R expression in CD, but not in TAL (9).…”

“…Since the early work of Morel (25), sites of V 2 R-mediated AVP action along the nephron have been defined at different levels, such as transport (13,15,17), ligand binding (2,35,44), receptor mRNA expression (9,32,47), and immunohistochemical localization (30,39). The collecting duct (CD) is generally considered the principal target for the antidiuretic action of AVP, but available data suggest a role for AVP also in the distal tubule (4,38,39). At both sites, AVP serves to control the renal concentrating mechanism.…”

Vasopressin up-regulates the expression of growth-related immediate-early genes via two distinct EGF receptor transactivation pathways

“…Arginine vasopressin (AVP) plays a central role in the mechanisms regulating blood pressure by stimulating the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells and water reabsorption in the kidney [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Importantly, AVP acts as a growth factor inducing hypertrophy and cell growth in a variety of cell types [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”