Kyu Yong Jung

Nephrotoxicity assessment by measuring cellular ATP content: I. Substrate specificities in the maintenance of ATP content in isolated rat nephron segments

To clarify the characteristics of cellular ATP synthesis in individual nephron segments for assessing nephrotoxicity of chemicals, cellular ATP content was measured by the luciferin/luciferase system under various conditions using intact nephron segments isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Increasing the duration of collagenase treatment of kidney slices significantly lowered the cellular levels of ATP newly synthesized from 2 mM glutamine in PST at 37 degrees C over 30 min (p less than 0.01). The tubular incubation time significantly affected the cellular ATP content in the early and middle portions (S2) of the proximal tubule (p less than 0.05 and p less than 0.01, respectively) over 20 min and in the late proximal tubule over 10 min. Among numerous substrates tested, such as D-glucose, glutamine, pyruvate, DL-lactate, and beta-hydroxybutyrate, the substrate utilization for maintaining cellular ATP content was entirely variable according to each nephron segment. Pyruvate and glutamine were the best substrates in the proximal tubule. On the other hand, ATP production from glutamine was less than that from the other substrates in the distally located nephron segments: medullary and cortical thick ascending limbs of Henles loop (MAL and CAL, respectively), distal tubule, cortical and medullary collecting tubules (CCT and MCT, respectively). In general, glucose, pyruvate, and lactate appear to be equivalent in maintaining ATP content in the distal segments of renal tubules. A monovalent cation ionophore, monensin, at 10 micrograms/ml decreased the cellular ATP content in MAL, CAL, and MCT significantly. Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) was used as a model compound to study nephrotoxicity by investigating its effects on cellular ATP metabolism in microdissected nephron segments. HgCl2 at 1 x 10(-6) M significantly decreased ATP content only in S2 (p less than 0.05), clearly demonstrating S2 to be the most sensitive segment within the nephron. These results indicate that measurement of cellular ATP content would be a useful method forecasting the intrarenal toxic site and potency of possible nephrotoxic chemical compounds.

Nephrotoxicity assessment by measuring cellular ATP content. II: Intranephron site of ochratoxin A nephrotoxicity

To clarify the nephrotoxic site and potency of ochratoxin A (OCTA), we measured cellular ATP contents in nine nephron segments incubated with or without OCTA in vitro. Cellular ATP contents of nephron segments isolated under stereomicroscopic observation after treatment of renal slices with 0.1% collagenase were measured by the microchemiluminescence method. OCTA decreased cellular ATP content in a dose-dependent manner. A concentration-response study of OCTA showed that the minimum concentration of OCTA needed to cause a significant decrease in ATP was 10(-8) M in the middle portion of the proximal tubule (S2; p less than 0.05) and 5 x 10(-4) M in the medullary collecting tubule (MCT; p less than 0.01). Among nine nephron segments, OCTA at 5 x 10(-5) M significantly decreased cellular ATP content in only S2 and the terminal portion of the proximal tubule (S3; p less than 0.01). ATP synthesis in mitochondria isolated from the renal cortex was significantly inhibited by 10(-6) M OCTA (p less than 0.05). Probenecid at 4 x 10(-4) M protected against the OCTA-induced cellular ATP decrease. These results suggest that OCTA might enter the plasma membrane in S2 and S3 through the organic anion transport pathway and inhibit mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. This newly established method would be applicable to evaluation of the intrarenal toxic site and potency of various chemical compounds.

Biphasic increasing effect of angiotensin-II on intracellular free calcium in isolated rat early proximal tubule

In the freshly isolated early proximal tubule (S1), the effect of angiotensin II (ANG II) on cytosolic Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) was determined using the fluorescent indicator fura-2. In order to establish an adequate experimental system, we investigated firstly the relationship between cellular ATP and [Ca++]i under various conditions in late proximal tubule, the most fragile nephron segment, and cortical collecting tubule, a relatively stable one. We found out that cellular ATP depletion caused [Ca++]i to rise, and ANG II response to [Ca++]i under high ATP condition was higher than that under low ATP condition. ANG II-induced [Ca++]i rise in S1 was biphasic, demonstrating the two peaks corresponding to the 10(-11) and 10(-7) M ANG II. This study suggests for the first time 1) the necessity of high intracellular ATP to evaluate a high affinity ANG II actions and 2) the biphasic characteristics of [Ca++]i increase by ANG II in intact S1.

Intranephron distribution of glycine-amidinotransferase activity in rats

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), a precursor of creatine, is an essential substrate for muscle energy metabolism, and synthesized by glycine-amidinotransferase (transamidinase) mainly in the kidney. Since the intranephron distribution of transamidinase activity has never been quantified yet, the purpose of this study is to provide evidence about the localization of transamidinase activity using microdissected individual nephron segments. Synthesized GAA was separated by HPLC and detected fluorometrically after reacting with 9,10-phenanthrenequinone. Results obtained were as follows. (1) Transamidinase activity was distributed only in the first (S1) and the second (S2) portion of the proximal tubule, S1 being significantly higher than S2. (2) In S2, arginine and glycine were better substrates for GAA synthesis than canavanine and glycine. These results clearly indicate that GAA is synthesized in definite portions of the proximal tubule, and would be transported to the liver for further creatine production.

Biosynthesis of guanidinoacetic acid in isolated renal tubules

Guanidinoacetic acid, a precursor of creatine, is an essential substrate for muscle energy metabolism. Since guanidinoacetic acid has been reported to be synthesized from arginine and glycine by glycine amidinotransferase (transamidinase) in kidney homogenates or slices, the purpose of this study was to provide evidence of guanidinoacetic acid synthesis in isolated tubules from rat kidneys, and to clarify the mechanism regulating it. Isolated rat tubules were incubated with various substrates. Guanidinoacetic acid was separated by high performance liquid chromatography and measured fluorometrically. Results obtained were as follows: (1) Guanidinoacetic acid was synthesized from arginine or canavanine and glycine in isolated rat tubules. (2) D,L-Norvaline, ornithine and methionine suppressed guanidinoacetic acid synthesis. (3) Creatine suppressed guanidinoacetic acid synthesis, i.e. creatine was a negative feedback inhibitor of guanidinoacetic acid synthesis in this in vitro system. (4) Guanidinoacetic acid was not synthesized from hydroxyurea, citrulline, argininosuccinic acid or canaline. These data demonstrate that guanidinoacetic acid is synthesized only from arginine or canavanine and glycine, and that the guanidine cycle may not function fully in the rat renal tubule.

Mercury chloride as a possible phospholipase C activator: Effect on angiotensin II-induced [Ca++]; transient in the rat early proximal tubule

In our previous report (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 165(3), 1221-1228, 1989), we have demonstrated the biphasic increase of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca++]i) induced by angiotensin II (ANG II) in isolated rat early proximal tubule (S1). The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of HgCl2 on ANG II-induced [Ca++]i increase using Fura-2. HgCl2 (10(-10) M2-10(-8) M) potentiated the [Ca++]i increase induced by ANG II (10(-11) M) in a dose-dependent manner. To determine the mechanism of stimulatory effect by HgCl2 on ANG II-induced [Ca++]i increase, nephron segments were pretreated with 10(-4) M propranolol, a phospholipase C inhibitor. The stimulatory effect by 10(-9) M HgCl2 in 10(-11) M ANG II-induced [Ca++]i increase was completely inhibited by propranolol. Moreover, 10(-4) M propranolol completely blocked the stimulatory effect of HgCl2 on ANG II-mediated IP3 production. This study suggests for the first time that HgCl2 stimulates the [Ca++]i increment induced by ANG II, possibly through an activation of phospholipase C.

A novel vasopressin receptor in rat early proximal tubule.

In order to evaluate the receptor subtypes of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in early proximal tubule (S1), outer medullary thick ascending limb of Henles loop (MTAL) and collecting tubule (OMCT), the effect of AVP on intracellular free calcium ([Ca++]i) was determined using the fluorescence indicator Fura-2. Physiological concentration (greater than or equal to 10(-12) M) of AVP in MTAL and OMCT mobilized [Ca++]i in a dose-dependent manner, but relatively high concentration (greater than or equal to 10(-9) M) of AVP in S1 increased [Ca++]i. Moreover, pretreatment with both V1 and V2 antagonists in MTAL or OMCT completely inhibited the AVP-induced [Ca++]i transient, but in S1 partially blocked it. Using several AVP analogues, a relative distribution of AVP receptor subtypes was tentatively calculated in each nephron segment, indicating that although these nephron segments possess V1, its density was very low (about 10%). The majority (about 90%) of AVP receptor in MTAL and OMCT was V2, while that in S1 was a new subtype (named Vp) which is insensitive to V1 and V2 antagonists. To evaluate physiological significance of Vp receptor, AVP-mediated cellular ATP change was measured. Cellular ATP content in S1 was significantly increased by 10(-7) M AVP, but in MTAL it was significantly decreased by the same concentration of AVP. This study suggests that a novel AVP receptor exists in isolated rat S1, and its physiological significance may be the inhibition of ATP-consuming ion transport system.

Heterogeneity of Nephron Energy Metabolism: Implications for Response to Hypoxic Insult

The mammalian kidney is known to consume ATP at high rates for various transporting processes. In order to evaluate energy metabolism and response to hypoxic insult along the nephron, we measured ATP content in each of the microdissected nephron segments from three animal species under various conditions using the luciferin/luciferase technique.

Cellular Adenosine Triphosphate Production and Consumption in the Descending Thin Limb of Henle’s Loop in the Rat

To characterize the properties of cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and consumption in the descending thin limb of Henles loop (DTL) in rats, we measured the cellular ATP content by applying the microchemiluminescence method. For ATP production, isolated DTL from the short- and long-loop nephron (SDL and LDL, respectively) was incubated with several substrates such as alanine, glucose, glutamine, beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HBA), lactate, and pyruvate; for ATP production from each substrate indicated that glucose and pyruvate were the preferred substrates to maintain cellular ATP in both SDL and LDL. ATP production from glutamine, beta-HBA, and lactate was substantial in LDL. In SDL, glutamine was the preferred substrate, and beta-HBA and lactate were minimal. The utilization of alanine was minimal in both LDL and SDL. The cellular ATP was significantly restored by ouabain at concentrations of 1.5 x 10(-5) and 1.5 x 10(-3) M in LDL, but in SDL only at 1.5 x 10(-3) M. In both segments, the cellular ATP level was significantly decreased by monensin above the concentrations of 1 micrograms/ml in LDL and 5 micrograms/ml in SDL. From these observations, we conclude that there exist clear differences between LDL and SDL in ATP-supplying substrate specificities and ATP-consuming properties.

Biosynthesis of Guanidinoacetic Acid in Isolated Renal Tubules

Guanidinoacetic acid, a precursor of creatine, is an essential substrate for muscle energy metabolism. Since guanidinoacetic acid has been reported to be synthesized from arginine and glycine by glycine amidinotransferase (transamidinase) in kidney homogenates or slices, the purpose of this study was to provide evidence of guanidinoacetic acid synthesis in isolated tubules from rat kidneys, and to clarify the mechanism regulating it. Isolated rat tubules were incubated with various substrates. Guanidinoacetic acid was separated by high performance liquid chromatography and measured fluorometrically. Results obtained were as follows: (1) Guanidinoacetic acid was synthesized from arginine or canavanine and glycine in isolated rat tubules. (2) D,L-Norvaline, ornithine and methionine suppressed guanidinoacetic acid synthesis. (3) Creatine suppressed guanidinoacetic acid synthesis, i.e. creatine was a negative feedback inhibitor of guanidinoacetic acid synthesis in this in vitro system. (4) Guanidinoacetic acid was not synthesized from hydroxyurea, citrulline, argininosuccinic acid or canaline. These data demonstrate that guanidinoacetic acid is synthesized only from arginine or canavanine and glycine, and that the guanidine cycle may not function fully in the rat renal tubule.