Stimulation of renal gluconeogenesis by angiotensin II

Renal gluconeogenesis was studied in suspended tubule fragments isolated by collagenase treatment of rat kidney cortices. Angiotensin II increased glucose formation from pyruvate, lactate, and to a lesser extent from oxoglutarate and glutamine, but not from other substrates such as malate, succinate, dihydroxyacetone or fructose. Stimulation was significant with peptide concentration exceeding 1 . 10(-8) M and was also shown with an 8-Sar derivative. Other peptides such as 4-Ala-8-Ile-angiotensin II, hexapeptide and bradykinin had no effect. The stimulatory action of angiotensin II was additive to that of L-lysine, and 3',5'-adenosine cyclic monophosphate, suggesting a different mechanism of action. In the presence of maximally stimulatory concentrations of oleate, phenylephrine and 3',5'-guanosine cyclic monophosphate, however, the stimulatory effect of angiotensin II was absent. Cyclic GMP levels, however, did not increase in tubules after angiotensin II and phenylephrine addition, making a messenger function of this nucleotide unlikely. Omission of Ca2+ from the medium markedly reduced basal gluconeogenesis but did not result in a complete loss of angiotensin II effect. Reduction of medium potassium to 2 mM, however, increased basal gluconeogenesis and blunted the peptide effect. 1 mM ouabain was also able to inhibit the stimulatory effect of angiotensin II. Therefore changes in intracellular potassium levels are discussed as a possible mechanism of angiontensin action, whereas calcium seems not to be specifically linked to this metabolic action of angiotensin on the proximal tubule.