Renal adenyl cyclase: anatomically separate sites for parathyroid hormone and vasopressin.

Adenyl cyclase from plasma membrane fractions of rat renal cortex or medulla was assayed by measuring conversion of adenosine triphosphate labeled at the alpha-phosphate with (32)P to cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate labeled with 32P. Parathyroid hormone activated the enzyme primarily in cortex; vasopressin acted primarily in medulla. These experiments support the conclusion that cyclic adenosine monophosphate mediates the action of parathyroid hormone on the kidney and show that parathyroid hormone and vasopressin stimulate adenyl cyclase at anatomically separable areas within the kidney.