Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein release from rat kidney cortex slices in vitro

Rat kidney cortex slices were incubated for 30 min at 37 degrees C in unmodified Krebs-Henseleit buffer containing aldosterone, vasopressin, theophylline, ethacrynic acid, frusemide, spironolactone or ouabain. Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein (THG) released into the media was measured by radioimmunoassay and at the end of each experiment the slices were homogenized and assayed for THG content. Incubation of kidney cortex slices in unmodified buffer resulted in a significant increase in the slice THG content when compared with pre-incubation levels. The increase was prevented by puromycin or cycloheximide. Incubation in ethacrynic acid (1 mmol/l) or frusemide (10 mmol/l) resulted in a significant increase in release of THG when compared with unmodified buffer. Puromycin or cycloheximide failed to prevent the increased release. THG release induced by ethacrynic acid or frusemide is probably the result of an aggregation-disaggregation reaction on the cell membrane. It is suggested that the action of the chloride inhibiting diuretics, ethacrynic acid and frusemide, is mediated in some way via THG.