Endothelin synthesis by porcine inner medullary collecting duct cells. Effects of hormonal and osmotic stimuli.

Previously, we have shown in porcine inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells that endothelin (ET), probably in an autocrine fashion, suppresses arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced synthesis of cAMP and thereby, may modify the action of AVP on IMCD fluid transport. In the present study we investigated the effects of various stimuli including extracellular tonicity on ET synthesis in porcine IMCD cells in culture. IMCD cells produced ET in a saturationlike time-dependent manner over a period of 24 h. Neither AVP (10(-7) mol/L), bradykinin (10(-7) mol/L), nor atrial natriuretic peptide (10(-7) mol/L) affected basal ET synthesis of IMCD cells at extracellular isotonicity (323 mOsm/kg H2O). The calcium ionophore A23187 (10(-7) mol/L) increased ET production by 38% within 2 h (P < .05). Preincubation for 48 h with increased osmolality in the incubation media from 323 to 600 mOsm/kg H2O by raising the concentrations of 1) NaCl (n = 6), 2) urea (n = 6), or 3) NaCl+urea (n = 6) increased ET synthesis from a control value of 225 +/- 25 pg/mg cell protein/2 h in isotonic medium to 1) 555 +/- 13 pg/mg cell protein/2 h (P < .01), 2) 354 +/- 18 pg/mg cell protein/2 h (P < .05), and 3) 448 +/- 22 pg/mg cell protein/2 h (P < .05), respectively, in hypertonic media. These data suggest that increases in papillary osmolality are associated with enhanced ET synthesis possibly involving a calcium-dependent process and attenuating AVP-dependent fluid absorption in a short-loop feedback fashion.