Parathyroid Hormone Stimulates Electrogenic Sodium Transport in A6 Cells

Abstract

The effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on sodium homeostasis in the distal tubule are not well defined. Using A6 cells as a model for distal tubular epithelium we measured equivalent short circuit current (leq), as an estimate of net sodium transport. We found that PTH increased leq in a dose-dependent manner. DDA, an agent which inhibits adenylate cyclase, decreased PTH-activated sodium transport, suggesting a role for cAMP elevation in PTH effects. Moreover, addition of Rp-cAMP, an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, partially blocked the PTH-stimulated leq. PTH also elicited a sustained increase in [Ca2+]i in A6 cells. This elevation in [Ca2+]i was abolished by removal of calcium from the extracellular medium, suggesting the involvement of calcium influx pathways. In fact, addition of the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine to PTH-stimulated leq partially blocked PTH-activated sodium transport. Taken together these data demonstrate that PTH stimulates electrogenic sodium transport in A6 cells and that this effect may be mediated through a rise in both intracellular calcium and cellular cAMP.