Na-K-ATPase activity along the rabbit, rat, and mouse nephron

Na-K-ATPase activity along the rabbit, rat, and mouse nephron was determined with a micromethod that measures directly labeled phosphate released by the hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]ATP. Na-K-ATPase activity was highest in the rat, intermediate in the mouse, and lowest in the rabbit nephron. With the exception of rabbit cortical thick ascending limb, the enzyme profile was similar in the three species: Na-K-ATPase activity per millimeter tubule length was highest in the distal convoluted tubule and thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, intermediate in the proximal convoluted tubule, and lowest in the pars recta and collecting tubule. The enzyme was present in the thin limbs of Henle's loop, but its activity was very low and measurements were close to the sensitivity limit of the method. Both the absolute activity and the fraction of the total enzyme represented by Na-K-ATPase were severalfold higher than in kidney homogenates. Finally, the Na-K-ATPase activity measured in certain segments of the rat and rabbit nephron in this study seems sufficient to account in theory for the active component of the net sodium transport found in the corresponding region of the nephron with either in vivo or in vitro single tubule microperfusion techniques.