Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange and Ca2+ depletion in rat proximal tubules

The removal of external Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) reduces cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in rat proximal tubules. In this report the role of external Na+ ([Na+]o) on the changes of [Ca2+]i and Ca2+ efflux caused by withdrawal of [Ca2+]o is described in rat renal proximal tubules. In aequorin-loaded tubules [Ca2+]i decreased from 235 +/- 25 to 48 +/- 16 (n = 4, P = 0.017), and 45Ca2+ fractional efflux ratio (45Ca2+ FER) increased from 0.94 +/- 0.03 to 1.64 +/- 0.19 (n = 6, P = 0.021) when Ca2+ was withdrawn from the bathing media of Krebs buffer (KB). The fall of [Ca2+]i, as well as the activation of 45Ca2+ FER, was reversed when [Na+]o in Ca(2+)-free KB was lowered isosmotically from 150 to 15 mM. However, when tubules were superfused with only 5 mM [Na+]o before [Ca2+]o was removed, [Ca2+]i also declined, but 45Ca2+ FER did not increase. The Na(+)-Ca2+ exchange inhibitor dichlorobenzamil (DCB) added after [Ca2+]o was removed evoked responses similar to [Na+]o removal, although DCB also inhibited internal Ca2+ release. These results are congruous with stimulation of Na+ influx in exchange for [Ca2+]i in Ca(2+)-free KB. However, even though total tubular Na+ was higher in Ca(2+)-free KB after 10 min, the initial rate of 22Na+ influx was not different without or with [Ca2+]o.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)