Na/K-ATPase in intercalated cells along the rat nephron revealed by antigen retrieval
I Sabolić1, C M Herak-Kramberger, S Breton
1Unit of Molecular Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia. sabolic@mimi.imi.hr
The Na/K-ATPase plays a fundamental role in the physiology of various mammalian cells. In the kidney, previous immunocytochemical studies have localized this protein to the basolateral membrane in different tubule segments. However, intercalated cells (IC) of the collecting duct (CD) in rat and mouse were unlabeled with anti-Na/K-ATPase antibodies. An antigen retrieval technique has been recently described in which tissue sections are pretreated with sodium dodecyl sulfate before immunostaining. This procedure was used to reexamine the presence of Na/K-ATPase in IC along the rat nephron using monoclonal antibodies against the Na/K-ATPase alpha-subunit. Subtypes of IC along the nephron were identified by their distinctive staining with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the 31-kD vacuolar H+ -ATPase subunit, whereas principal cells (PC) were labeled with a polyclonal antibody to the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP-4). In PC, the Na/K-ATPase and AQP-4 staining colocalized basolaterally. In contrast to previous reports, we found that IC of all types showed basolateral labeling with the anti-Na/K-ATPase antibody. The staining was quantified by fluorescence image analysis. It was weak to moderate in IC of cortical and outer medullary collecting ducts and most intense in IC of the initial inner medullary collecting duct. IC in the initial inner medulla showed a staining intensity that was equivalent or stronger to that in adjacent principal cells. Models of ion transport at the cellular and epithelial level in rat kidney, therefore, must take into account the potential role of a basolateral Na/K-ATPase in intercalated cell function.
The Na/K-ATPase plays a fundamental role in the physiology of various mammalian cells. In the kidney, previous immunocytochemical studies have localized this protein to the basolateral membrane in different tubule segments. However, intercalated cells (IC) of the collecting duct (CD) in rat and mouse were unlabeled with anti-Na/K-ATPase antibodies. An antigen retrieval technique has been recently described in which tissue sections are pretreated with sodium dodecyl sulfate before immunostaining. This procedure was used to reexamine the presence of Na/K-ATPase in IC along the rat nephron using monoclonal antibodies against the Na/K-ATPase alpha-subunit. Subtypes of IC along the nephron were identified by their distinctive staining with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to the 31-kD vacuolar H+ -ATPase subunit, whereas principal cells (PC) were labeled with a polyclonal antibody to the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP-4). In PC, the Na/K-ATPase and AQP-4 staining colocalized basolaterally. In contrast to previous reports, we found that IC of all types showed basolateral labeling with the anti-Na/K-ATPase antibody. The staining was quantified by fluorescence image analysis. It was weak to moderate in IC of cortical and outer medullary collecting ducts and most intense in IC of the initial inner medullary collecting duct. IC in the initial inner medulla showed a staining intensity that was equivalent or stronger to that in adjacent principal cells. Models of ion transport at the cellular and epithelial level in rat kidney, therefore, must take into account the potential role of a basolateral Na/K-ATPase in intercalated cell function.
Related Concept Videos
01:30ATP Driven Pumps III: V-type Pumps
The peripheral or cytosolic V1 domain with eight subunits is involved in ATP hydrolysis. The integral or transmembrane V0 domain containing at least five subunits...
01:28Reabsorption and Secretion in the PCT
Transport mechanisms involving sodium ions (Na+) contribute significantly to solute reabsorption. These mechanisms include symport and antiport processes.
A key example is the...
01:17Reabsorption and Secretion in the Loop of Henle
01:14Active Transport
Primary active transporters, like Na+, K+ and -ATPase, directly utilize ATP to move ions across the membrane. These transporters play significant roles in various physiological processes. For instance, Na+, K+ and -ATPase maintain...