Endothelial-derived nitric oxide inhibits sodium transport by affecting apical membrane channels in cultured collecting duct cells.

Previously, it has been shown that the addition of bradykinin (Bk) to M-1 cortical collecting duct cells in the presence of endothelial cells decreased short-circuit current (Isc), a measure of net active transport. This effect is presumably due to the release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO), because the decrease in Isc could be blocked with Nw-nitro-L-arginine. To show that the inhibition of Isc was due to EDNO rather than prostaglandins, the ability of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor to block the inhibition was examined. When Bk was added to cocultures in the presence of meclofenamate (10(-5) M), Isc decreased from 62 +/- 12 to 44.5 +/- 7 muA/cm2, not significantly different from that in the absence of meclofenamate. To determine if the effect was due to an alteration of sodium absorption, Bk (10(-9) M) was added to cocultures, resulting in a decrease in Na flux from 28 +/- 3.1 to 20 +/- 2.2 nEq/min (P < 0.05), with Isc decreasing from 25 +/- 2.4 to 20 +/- 3.6 nEq/min (P < 0.05). To examine if the inhibition was due to blockade at the apical membrane sodium channel or the basolateral Na+/K+ ATPase, the cation-selective ionophore nystatin was used. Nystatin reversed the effect of EDNO on Isc. The effects of EDNO on Na+/K+ ATPase were also measured directly. Under maximum rate conditions, the Na+/K+ ATPase activity of control and Bk-treated cocultures was 5.2 +/- 0.3 and 6.8 +/- 1.0 nmol/min per square centimeter, respectively (not significantly different).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)