The neuropeptide hormone arginine-vasopressin (AVP) is well known to exert its antidiuretic effect via the vasopressin V2 receptor (V2R), whereas the role of the vasopressin V1a receptor (V1aR) in the kidney remains to be clarified. Previously, we reported decreased plasma volume and blood pressure in V1a receptor-deficient (V1aR^−/−) mice (Koshimizu T, Nasa Y, Tanoue A, Oikawa R, Kawahara Y, Kiyono Y, Adachi T, Tanaka T, Kuwaki T, Mori T. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103: 7807–7812, 2006). In this study, we investigated the role of V1aR in urine concentration, renal function, and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) using V1aR^−/−mice. Urine volume of V1aR^−/−mice was greater than that of wild-type mice, particularly when water was loaded, while the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinary NaCl excretion, AVP-dependent cAMP generation, V2R, and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) expression in the kidney were lower, indicating that the diminished GFR and V2R-AQP2 system led to impaired urinary concentration in V1aR^−/−mice. Since the GFR and V2R-AQP2 system are regulated by RAS, we analyzed renin and angiotensin II in V1aR^−/−mice and found that the plasma renin and angiotensin II were decreased. The expression of renin in granule cells was decreased in V1aR^−/−mice, which led to a decreased level of plasma renin. In addition, the expression of renin stimulators such as neuronal nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in macula densa (MD) cells, where V1aR was specifically expressed, was decreased in V1aR^−/−mice. These data indicate that AVP regulates body fluid homeostasis and GFR via the V1aR in MD cells by activating RAS and subsequently the V2R-AQP2 system.

In gastrointestinal (GI) physiology, anion and fluid secretion is an important function for host defense and is induced by changes in the luminal environment. The transient receptor potential A1 (TRPA1) channel is considered to be a chemosensor in several sensory tissues. Although the function of TRPA1 has been studied in GI motility, its contribution to the transepithelial ion transport system has rarely been discussed. In the present study, we investigated the secretory effect of the potential TRPA1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) in rat and human colon using an Ussing chamber. The mucosal application of AITC (10⁻⁶-10⁻³ M) induced Cl⁻ and HCO₃⁻ secretion in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas the serosal application induced a significantly weaker effect. AITC-evoked anion secretion was attenuated by tissue pretreatment with piroxicam and prostaglandin (PG) E₂; however, this secretion was not affected by TTX, atropine, or extracellular Ca²⁺ depletion. These experiments indicate that TRPA1 activation induces anion secretion through PG synthesis, independent of neural pathways in the colon. Further analysis also indicates that AITC-evoked anion secretion is mediated mainly by the EP₄ receptor subtype. The magnitude of the secretory response exhibited segmental heterogeneity in rat colon. Real-time PCR analysis showed the segmental difference was corresponding to the differential expression of EP₄ receptor and cyclooxygenase-1 and -2. In addition, RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemical studies showed TRPA1 expression in the colonic epithelia. Therefore, we conclude that the activation of TRPA1 in colonic epithelial cells is likely involved in the host defense mechanism through rapid anion secretion.

ATP-sensitive K⁺ (K_ATP) channel subunits on the subcellular structures of rat cardiomyocytes were studied with antibodies against Kir6.1 and Kir6.2. According to the results of Western blot analysis, Kir6.1 was strongly expressed in mitochondrial and microsome fractions, and faintly expressed in cell membrane fraction, whereas Kir6.2 was mainly expressed in the microsome fraction and weakly in cell membrane and mitochondrial fractions. Immunohistochemistry showed that Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 were expressed in the endocardium, atrial and ventricular myocardium, and in vascular smooth muscles. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that Kir6.1 immunoreactivity was mainly localized in the mitochondria, whereas Kir6.2 immunoreactivity was mainly localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and a few in the mitochondria. Both Kir6.1 and Kir6.2 are candidates of mitochondrial K_ATP channel subunits. The data obtained in this study will be useful for analyzing the composition of K_ATP channels of cardiomyocytes and help to understanding the cardioprotective role of K_ATP channels during heart ischemia.

Erythropoietin production has been reported to occur in the peritubular interstitial fibroblasts in the kidney. Since the erythropoietin production in the nephron is controversial, we reevaluated the erythropoietin production in the kidney. We examined mRNA expressions of erythropoietin and HIF PHD2 using high-sensitive in situ hybridization system (ISH) and protein expression of HIF PHD2 using immunohistochemistry in the kidney. We further investigated the mechanism of erythropoietin production by hypoxia in vitro using human liver hepatocell (HepG2) and rat intercalated cell line (IN-IC cells). ISH in mice showed mRNA expression of erythropoietin in proximal convoluted tubules (PCTs), distal convoluted tubules (DCTs) and cortical collecting ducts (CCDs) but not in the peritubular cells under normal conditions. Hypoxia induced mRNA expression of erythropoietin largely in peritubular cells and slightly in PCTs, DCTs, and CCDs. Double staining with AQP3 or AE1 indicated that erythropoietin mRNA expresses mainly in β-intercalated or non α/non β-intercalated cells of the collecting ducts. Immunohistochemistry in rat showed the expression of HIF PHD2 in the collecting ducts and peritubular cells and its increase by anemia in peritubular cells. In IN-IC cells, hypoxia increased mRNA expression of erythropoietin, erythropoietin concentration in the medium and protein expression of HIF PHD2. These data suggest that erythropoietin is produced by the cortical nephrons mainly in the intercalated cells, but not in the peritubular cells, in normal hematopoietic condition and by mainly peritubular cells in hypoxia, suggesting the different regulation mechanism between the nephrons and peritubular cells.

The kidney is a main site of erythropoietin production in the body. We developed a new method for the detection of Epo protein by deglycosylation-coupled Western blotting. Detection of deglycosylated Epo enables the examination of small changes in Epo production. Using this method, we investigated the effects of angiotensin II (ATII) on Epo production in the kidney. ATII stimulated the plasma Epo concentration; Epo, HIF2α, and PHD2 mRNA expression in nephron segments in the renal cortex and outer medulla; and Epo protein expression in the renal cortex. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed that ATII stimulates Epo mRNA and protein expression not only in proximal tubules but also in collecting ducts, especially in intercalated cells. These data support the regulation of Epo production in the kidney by the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAS).