The effects of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin in renal sodium tubular transport.

To compare the function of sodium transport between intestine and renal tubule, we studied the effect of E. coli STa enterotoxin and 8-bromo cyclic GMP in perfused rat kidneys. Infusion of STa enterotoxin (0.017 and 0.1 micrograms/ml) caused a dose and time dependent decrease in total renal sodium tubular transport. The major site of STa effect was at the renal proximal tubule. Similar to Sta enterotoxin, 8-bromo cyclic GMP (10(-5) M) caused a significant decrease of fractional renal sodium proximal tubule transport. In contrast to STa enterotoxin, infusion of 8-bromo cyclic GMP resulted in a significant but short lasting (30 min.) increase in glomerular filtration rate. STa enterotoxin also decreased significantly the renal tissue potassium. This STa effect was related to a significant decrease in renal potassium tubular transport, resulting also in an increase of urinary potassium excretion. These studies demonstrate the specific functional effect of STa enterotoxin in promoting the decrease in renal proximal tubular sodium transport, similar to 8-bromo cyclic GMP. In perfused rat kidneys STa also decreased tissue potassium, mainly by a decrease in potassium transport and increase in urinary potassium excretion. These effects suggest the existence of an endogenous peptide resembling STa enterotoxin, that regulates the function of renal sodium tubular transport.