Dopamine and protein phosphatase activity in renal proximal tubules

In the brain, dopamine, via protein kinase A (PKA) activation of dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32), inhibits protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) activity and keeps Na(+)-K(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) in its phosphorylated inactive state. In the present study, we examined the relationship among dopamine, PP1, and Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activities in renal proximal tubules. PP1 activity in proximal tubules was not decreased by dopamine (5 x 10(-9)-10(-4) M), fenoldopam (5 x 10(-6) M), or norepinephrine (5 x 10(-7) M). In contrast, in the medullary thick ascending limb of Henle and in the brain striatum, PP1 activity was decreased by fenoldopam (5 x 10(-6) M). We also showed that the ability of dopamine (10(-6) M) to inhibit Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in proximal tubules (assessed by ouabain-sensitive 86Rb uptake) occurred in the absence or presence of a sodium clamp with 5 microM monensin. Thus the inhibitory effect of dopamine on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in proximal tubules is not regulated by PP1 activity. Tautomycin and okadaic acid by themselves, at concentrations that inhibited PP1 activity, had no effect on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in proximal tubules. The ability of a dopamine D1 agonist, fenoldopam, to inhibit PP1 activity in brain striatum and in medullary thick ascending limb, but not in proximal tubules, suggests differential organ and nephron segment regulation of PP activity.