Differential regulation of putative k-atpase by low k diet and corticosteroids in rat distal colon and kidney. Jaisser, F., B. Escoubet, N. Coutry, E. Eugene, J. P. Bonvalet, and N. Farman. Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, U246 and U426, Institut Federatif de Recherches "Cellules epitheliales", Faculte de Medecine Xavier Bichat, BP 416 - 75870 PARIS Cedex 18 - France
APStracts 2:0323C, 1995.
Potassium homeostasis depends on potassium absorption in digestive and renal epithelia. Recently a cDNA encoding for a putative K+-ATPase [alpha] subunit has been characterized. We studied its expression by RNAse Protection Assay and In Situ Hybridization in the distal colon and the kidney of rats in various physiological states. In the distal colon of control rats, high expression of the colonic putative K+ -ATPase mRNA was restricted to the surface epithelial cells. Low K+ diet did not modify this expression ; adrenalectomy decreased it, and both aldosterone or dexamethazone 2 days treatment restored normal levels. In the kidney of control rats, levels of K+-ATPase mRNA were very low. Low K+ diet revealed a clear mRNA expression, consistent with a recent report (J.A Kraut et al, Am.J.Physiol. 1995,268,F581 -F587). This expression was restricted to the outer medullary collecting duct, presumably in principal cells. Changes in corticosteroid status did not influence the renal expression. Our results, together with previous studies on K+ absorption and K+ -ATPase activity suggest that more than a single molecular form of K+ -ATPase is likely to be responsible for the regulation of K+ absorption in both colon and distal nephron.

Received 4 April 1995; accepted in final form 25 August 1995.
APS Manuscript Number C192-5.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Cell Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1995 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 23 September 1995.