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Ureter obliteration transiently depresses erythropoietin production
Background:
The erythropoietin (EPO) gene is activated in peritubular cells of the renal cortex in response to hypoxia and EPO is secreted into the circulation. Oxygen tension in the venous blood normally determine EPO elaboration, and, therefore, oxygen consumption in the kidney appears to be an essential part of the oxygen-sensing physiological mechanism. As renal oxygen consumption is closely linked to urine production, we have compared responsiveness of the EPO gene to diminished oxygen supply in the normal kidney with that of the hydronephrotic kidney, resulting from ureter ligation.
Methods:
Erythropoietin mRNA was determined in RNA extracted from murine kidneys at various times up to 61 days after ureter ligation. Mice were exposed to hypoxia for 4 h before being killed.
Results:
Unilateral ureter ligation significantly decreased EPO mRNA levels in the affected kidney. However, the ability to increase EPO mRNA recovered between days 4 and 22, despite persisting ureter ligation.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrate a dissociation between the excretory functions of the kidney and EPO production. Moreover, they show an early but transient suppression of EPO gene responsiveness to hypoxia after ureter ligation.