Effects of glucagon on Na+, Cl-, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ transports in cortical and medullary thick ascending limbs of mouse kidney

Abstract

The effects of glucagon on transepithelial Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ net fluxes were investigated in isolated perfused cortical (cTAL) and medullary (mTAL) thick ascending limbs of Henle's loop of the mouse nephron. Transepithelial ion net fluxes (JNa+, JCl-, JK+, JCa2+, JMg2+) were determined by electron probe analysis of the collected tubular fluid. Simultaneously the transepithelial voltage (PDte) and the transepithelial resistance (Rte) were recorded. In cTAL-segments (n = 8), glucagon (1.2 x 10(-8) mol.1-1) stimulated significantly the reabsorption of Na+, Cl-, Ca2+ and Mg2+: JNa+ increased from 204 +/- 20 to 228 +/- 23 pmol.min-1.mm-1, JCl- from 203 +/- 18 to 234 +/- 21 pmol.min-1.mm-1, JCa2+ from 0.52 +/- 0.13 to 1.34 +/- 0.30 pmol.min-1.mm-1 and JMg2+ from 0.51 +/- 0.08 to 0.84 +/- 0.08 pmol.min-1.mm-1.JK+ remained unchanged: 3.2 +/- 1.3 versus 4.0 +/- 1.9 pmol.min-1.mm-1. Neither PDte (16.3 +/- 1.5 versus 15.9 +/- 1.4 mV) nor Rte (22.5 +/- 3.0 versus 20.3 +/- 2.6 omega cm2) were changed significantly by glucagon. However, in the post-experimental periods a significant decrease in PDte and increase in Rte were noted. In mTAL-segments (n = 9), Mg2+ and Ca2+ transports were close to zero and glucagon elicited no significant effect. The reabsorptions of Na+ and Cl-, however, were strongly stimulated: JNa+ increased from 153 +/- 17 to 226 +/- 30 pmol.min-1.mm-1 and JCl- from 151 +/- 23 to 243 +/- 30 pmol.min-1.mm-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)