cGMP mediates effects of atrial peptides on medullary collecting duct cells

Atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) stimulate renal Na+ excretion by poorly understood mechanisms, possibly involving direct inhibition of Na+ transport in the renal medulla. We have previously shown that human ANP 4-28 (hANP) inhibits Na+ entry-dependent O2 consumption (QO2) in rabbit inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells. Because ANP actions in other tissues appear to be mediated by guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP), the present studies examined the role of cyclic nucleotides in IMCD cell responses to ANP. 8-Bromo-cGMP (8-BrcGMP) diminished QO2 by 23.5 +/- 1.2% (SE) in IMCD cells but had no effect in cells derived from outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD); dibutyryl-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) was without effect in IMCD cells. The inhibitory effect of BrcGMP was not additive with ANP, amiloride, or ouabain. Amphotericin, which enhances Na+ entry into cells, prevented the inhibitory effect of 8-BrcGMP. These results indicate that 8-BrcGMP, like ANP, inhibited Na+ entry in IMCD cells. hANP stimulated a 10-fold increase in cGMP in IMCD cells without altering IMCD cAMP levels or OMCD cGMP levels. Isobutyl methylxanthine, which inhibits phosphodiesterase activity, enhanced both cGMP accumulation and inhibition of QO2 by submaximal levels (10(-9) M) of ANP. Nitroprusside raised cGMP levels in both IMCD and OMCD cells but inhibited QO2 only in IMCD cells. We conclude that cGMP mediates the transport effects of ANP in IMCD cells. Our results indicate that cGMP may play an important role in the regulation of sodium transport in renal epithelia.