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Distal tubular segments of the rabbit kidney after adaptation to altered Na- and K-intake

I. Structural changes

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Summary

The baso-lateral cell-membrane area in kidney tubules appears to be associated with the capacity for electrolyte transport; in the rabbit, it decreases from the distal convoluted tubule (DCT-cells) over the connecting tubule (CNT-cells) to the cortical collecting duct (principal cells).

Adaptation to low Na-, high K-intake changes this pattern: CNT-cells at the beginning of the connecting tubule have the highest membrane area, which decreases along the segment, but remains two-fold higher than in controls. Principal cells have a four-fold higher membrane area than in controls. Simultaneous treatment with the antimineralocorticoid canrenoate-K inhibits the structural changes in CNT-cells only in end-portions of the connecting tubule and in principal cells.

After prolonged high Na-, low K-intake DCT-cells display a two-fold higher membrane area than controls, while CNT-cells and principal cells are not affected. Simultaneous treatment with DOCA does not affect the DCT-cells but provokes a moderate increase in membrane area in CNT-cells, and a 5.5-fold increase in principal cells.

The data provide evidence that DCT-, CNT- and principal cells are functionally different cell types. The baso-lateral cell-membrane area, associated with electrolyte-transport capacity, appears to be influenced in DCT-cells mainly by Na-intake, in CNT-cells mainly by K-intake and in part also by mineralocorticoids, and in principal cells mainly by mineralocorticoids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomisches Institut der Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Bundesrepublik Deutschland

    Brigitte Kaissling

  2. Medizinische Universitäts-Poliklinik and Departement Forschung, Kantonsspital Basel, Schweiz

    Michel Le Hir

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  1. Brigitte Kaissling
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Supported by SFB90, CARVAS, Heidelberg and Swiss National Science Foundation, Grant No. 3.900-0.79

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Kaissling, B., Le Hir, M. Distal tubular segments of the rabbit kidney after adaptation to altered Na- and K-intake. Cell Tissue Res. 224, 469–492 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213746

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