Activation of the epithelial Na+ channel in the collecting duct by vasopressin contributes to water reabsorption.

ABSTRACT: We used patch-clamp electrophysiology on isolated, split-open murine collecting ducts (CD) to test the hypothesis that regulation of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) activity is a physiologically important effect of vasopressin. Surprisingly, this has not been tested directly before. We ask whether vasopressin affects ENaC activity distinguishing between acute and chronic effects, as well as, parsing the cellular signaling pathway and molecular mechanism of regulation. In addition, we quantified possible synergistic regulation of ENaC by vasopressin and aldosterone associating this with a requirement for distal nephron Na+ reabsorption during water conservation vs. maintenance of Na+ balance. We find that vasopressin significantly increases ENaC activity within 2-3 min by increasing open p

SUBMITTER: Bugaj V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2781343 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature