Hormonal regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase in cultured epithelial cells

Aldosterone and insulin stimulate Na+ transport through mechanisms involving protein synthesis. Na+-K+-ATPase has been implicated in the action of both hormones. We examined the effect of aldosterone and insulin on Na+-K+-ATPase in epithelial cells in culture derived from toad urinary bladder (TB6C) and toad kidney (A6). Aldosterone, but not insulin, increases short-circuit current (ISC) in TB6C cells. Aldosterone increases Na+-K+-ATPase activity after 18 h of incubation, but no effect can be seen at 3 and 6 h. Amiloride, which inhibits aldosterone-induced increases in ISC, has no effect on either basal or aldosterone stimulated enzyme activity. Both aldosterone and insulin increase ISC in A6 cells and when added together are synergistic. Aldosterone stimulates enzyme activity in A6 cells, but insulin alone has no effect. However, aldosterone and insulin together stimulate enzyme activity more than aldosterone alone. It appears that stimulation of Na+-K+-ATPase activity is involved in aldosterone action in both cell lines but does not appear to be due to increased Na+ entry, since enhanced enzyme activity is not inhibited by amiloride. In contrast, insulin alone has no direct effect on Na+-K+-ATPase, although the increased enzyme activity following both agents in combination may explain their synergism on ISC.