Effect of colchicine on urinary phosphate and regulation by parathyroid hormone

The possible role of cytoplasmic microtubules in the renal handling of phosphate and its regulation by parathyroid hormone (PTH) was evaluated with colchicine, a microtubule-disrupting agent. Colchicine-treated rats were thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX) and subsequently infused with PTH. Treatment with a total dose of 1 mg colchicine had no effect on glomerular filtration rate or fractional excretions of sodium and potassium. Fractional excretion of phosphate in colchicine-treated TPTX rats was significantly higher compared with TPTX controls. After PTH infusion, control rats responded with increases in fractional excretion of phosphate and urinary cyclic AMP but colchicine-treated rats had variable and insignificant changes in both parameters. Fractional excretion of sodium and potassium did not change significantly after PTH. Renal cortical activities of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase, soluble alkaline phosphatase, cytochrome oxidase, leucine aminopeptidase, or basal adenylate cyclase were not significantly affected by colchicine treatment. On the other hand, stimulation of adenylate cyclase by a submaximal dose of PTH was markedly decreased in colchicine-treated rats, and the activity of membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase was also significantly decreased. The binding of radioactive colchicine in renal cortical extracts from rats treated with colchicine was significantly diminished. These results suggest that disruption of cytoplasmic microtubules in renal cortical cells interferes with phosphate transport and its regulation by PTH.