Effect of PTH on calcium transport across the cortical thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

Cortical thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop were dissected from rabbit kidneys and perfused in vitro. Unidirectional transepithelial calcium fluxes from lumen-to-bath and bath-to-lumen were measured with 45Ca. The tubules were bathed in 150 mM sodium and perfused with 60 mM sodium to simulate conditions in the cortical thick ascending limb in vivo. During the 20-30 min preceding the addition of parathyroid hormone (PTH), net calcium absorption decreased from 0.207 to 0.084 pmol x s-1 x cm-1. After addition of synthetic bovine PTH (60-64 nM) to the bath, there was an immediate increase in calcium absorption, and by 20 min the net flux increased to 0.415 pmol x s-1 x cm-1. The increase in calcium absorption was due to an increase in the lumen-to-bath flux. Dibutyryl-cAMP or 8-BrcAMP mimicked PTH; adrenocorticotropic hormone had no effect on the calcium flux. Transepithelial voltage was unchanged after addition of PTH. We conclude that PTH increases calcium absorption across the cortical thick ascending limb, probably by stimulation of adenylate cyclase.