Inhibition of water permeability in the rat collecting duct: Effect of imidazoline and alpha-2 compounds

Lúcia H. Kudo, Connie A. Hébert, Alexander J. Rouch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) increases water permeability in the collecting duct of the nephron via activation of adenylyl cyclase. Alpha-2 (α2) agonists inhibit AVP-stimulated water permeability via binding to α2 adrenoceptors that have been divided into 3 subtypes- α(2A), α(2B), and α(2c). Some biological effects mediated by α2 agonists result from nonadrenergic imidazoline receptors that exist in the rat kidney. Thus, α2- inhibition of AVP-stimulated water permeability in the rat collecting duct could be caused by imidazoline receptors. The purpose of this study was to test agonists and antagonists selective for α2 and imidazoline receptors on AVP-stimulated water permeability in the rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Some experiments were conducted where water permeability was stimulated by a nonhydrolyzable analog of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). Agonists included dexmedetomidine, clonidine, oxymetazoline, agmatine and rilmenidine. The latter two are selective imidazoline agonists. Antagonists included yohimbine, RX821002, atipamezole, prazosin, WB4101, idazoxan, and BU239. Prazosin and WB4101 demonstrate selectivity for the α(2B) and α(2C) subtypes, respectively, and oxymetazoline and RX821002 are selective for the α(2A) subtype. BU239 is selective for imidazoline receptors. Wistar rat terminal IMCDs were isolated and perfused to determine the osmotic water permeability coefficient (P(f)). All agonists except agmatine inhibited AVP-stimulated P(f). Inhibition by rilmenidine indicated a different mechanism of action from other agonists. Dose-response data show dexmedetomidine to be the most potent inhibitor. Oxymetazoline and clonidine inhibited cAMP-stimulated P(f) indicating that the mechanism involves postcAMP cellular events. It was reported previously that dexmedetomidine inhibits cAMP-stimulated P(f) (1). All antagonists except prazosin and WB4101 reversed α2-inhibition of AVP-stimulated P(f). BU239 was effective at 1 μM but not at 100 nM. Results suggest that α(2A) adrenoceptors modulate water permeability in the IMCD. The involvement of imidazoline receptors is inconclusive.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)136-146
Number of pages11
JournalProceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine
Volume221
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1999

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