Determination of Na-K-ATPase activity in single segments of the mammalian nephron

A micromethod for the determination of Na-K-ATPase in discrete segments of nephrons from rabbit, rat, and mouse kidneys is described. To facilitate tubule microdissection, the kidneys were perfused with collagenase after it had been verified that collagenase had no effect on ATPase activity. Individual tubule segments were dissected under stereomicroscopic observation, exposed to a hypotonic environment followed by rapid freezing, and incubated in 1 microliter assay medium. Enzyme activity was determined by direct measurement of labeled inorganic phosphate release by the hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]ATP and was expressed as a function of tubule length. This method is technically simple enough to permit simultaneous measurement of the enzyme in large numbers of tubules and sufficiently sensitive to determine its activity in each region of the nephron. Correlation of Na-K-ATPase activity in single tubules with functional measurements obtained in the corresponding segment of the nephron with the perfused tubule or micropuncture techniques should help define the role of this enzyme in tubular ion transport.