Vanadium, Na-K-ATPase, and potassium adaptation in the rat

Vanadate is a potent inhibitor of Na-K-ATPase in vitro. It has been suggested that vanadium may function as a cellular regulator of Na-K-ATPase in vivo. To examine this speculation, we studied in rats the effect of high vanadate intake on 1) the tissue levels and distribution of vanadium, 2) basal activity of Na-K-ATPase in various tissues, and 3) the activity of Na-K-ATPase in various organs under conditions of massive chronic potassium loading known to stimulate Na-K-ATPase in the kidney and colon. Despite extremely high tissue levels of vanadium there was no demonstrable effect of the element on the basal activity of Na-K-ATPase. When subjected to chronic potassium loading, rats with high tissue vanadium concentrations underwent potassium adaptation that was associated with a rise in Na-K-ATPase activity in the renal cortex, renal medulla, and colonic mucosa. Further studies are needed to support or refute the thesis that vanadium might be an intracellular regulator of Na-K-ATPase in vivo.