Modulation of cell membrane area in renal collecting tubules by corticosteroid hormones.

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Abstract
Isolated renal cortical collecting tubules obtained from rabbits treated chronically with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) were found to possess elevated transepithelial potential differences and a greatly increased capacity for ion transport. Structural examination of tubules from rabbits exposed to either DOCA or dexamethasone for 11-18 days revealed a marked increase in basolateral cell membrane area in these tubules. Morphometric analysis showed that this effect is specifically on the basolateral membrane area of only 1 of the 2 cell types found in this nephron segment. Increases of > 140% and 90% were found for the basolateral membrane area of the principal cells for DOCA and dexamethasone, respectively, but no change could be detected in the basolateral membrane area of the intercalated cells found in this nephron segment. No significant changes were found in luminal membrane area, cell number or cell volume for either cell type. Significant changes in membrane area can occur in differentiated epithelia and this may be an important mechanism for modulating epithelial transport capacity.

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