Synthetic agonists of the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor subtype ␥ (PPAR-␥) are highly beneficial in the treatment of type II diabetes. However, they are also associated with fluid retention and edema, potentially serious side effects of unknown origin. These studies were designed to test the hypothesis that rosiglitazone (RGZ, PPAR-␥ agonist) may activate sodium-and water-reabsorptive processes in the kidney, possibly in response to a drop in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), as well as directly through PPAR-␥. Targeted proteomics of the major renal sodium and water transporters and channel proteins was used to identify potentially regulated sites of renal sodium and water reabsorption. RGZ (47 or 94 mg/kg diet) was fed to male, Sprague-Dawley rats (ϳ270g) for 3 days. MAP, measured by radiotelemetry, was decreased significantly in rats fed either level of RGZ, relative to control rats. Delta MAP from baseline was Ϫ3.2 Ϯ 1.2 mm Hg in rats fed high-dose RGZ versus ϩ 3.4 Ϯ 0.8 for rats fed control diet. RGZ did not affect feed or water intake, but rats treated with high-dose RGZ had decreased urine volume (by 22%), sodium excretion (44%), kidney weight (9%), and creatinine clearance (35%). RGZ increased whole kidney protein abundance of the ␣-1 subunit of Na-K-ATPase, the bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2), the sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHE3), the aquaporins 2 and 3, and endothelial nitric-oxide synthase. We conclude that both increases in renal tubule transporter abundance and a decrease in glomerular filtration rate likely contribute to the RGZ-induced sodium retention.

. Regulation of blood pressure, the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), and other key renal sodium transporters by chronic insulin infusion in rats.

. Regulation of the renal thiazidesensitive Na-Cl cotransporter, blood pressure, and natriuresis in obese Zucker rats treated with rosiglitazone. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 289: F442-F450, 2005. First published April 5, 2005; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00335.2004.-Previously, we showed an increase in protein abundance of the renal thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC) in young, prediabetic, obese Zucker rats relative to lean age mates (Bickel CA, Verbalis JF, Knepper MA, and Ecelbarger CA. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 281: F639 -F648, 2001). To test whether this increase correlated with increased thiazide sensitivity (NCC activity) and blood pressure, and could be modified by insulinsensitizing agents, we treated lean and obese Zucker rats (9 wk old) with either a control diet or this diet supplemented with 3 mg/kg body wt rosiglitazone (RGZ), a peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor subtype ␥ agonist and potent insulin-sensitizing agent, for 12 wk (n ϭ 9/group). The rise in blood pressure, measured continuously by radiotelemetry, was significantly blunted in the RGZ-treated obese rats. Similarly, blood glucose and urinary albumin were markedly decreased in these rats. RGZ-treated rats whether lean or obese excreted a NaCl load faster but excreted less sodium in response to hydrochlorothiazide, applied as a novel in vivo measure of NCC activity. Obese rats had increased renal protein abundance and urinary excretion of NCC; however, this was not significantly reduced by RGZ (densitometry in cortex homogenate Ϫ %lean control): 100 Ϯ 9, 93 Ϯ 4, 124 Ϯ 9, and 141 Ϯ 14 for lean control, lean RGZ, obese control, and obese RGZ, respectively. Subcellular localization, as evaluated by confocal microscopy and immunoblotting following differential centrifugation, of NCC was not different between rat groups. Overall, RGZ reduced blood pressure and thiazide sensitivity; however, the mechanism(s) did not seem to involve a decrease in NCC protein abundance or cellular location. Decreased NCC activity may have contributed to the maintenance of normotension in RGZ-treated obese rats. insulin resistance; type II diabetes; TSC THE OBESE ZUCKER RAT is a model of gross obesity with marked insulin resistance coupled to mild hypertension. Dysregulation of sodium balance and pressure-natriuresis as a result of insulin resistance likely are major contributors to the rise in blood pressure. Previously, we (4) showed increased renal abundances of three major sodium transport proteins in the kidney of the obese Zucker rat relative to lean age mates at both 2 and 4 mo of age, i.e., the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC or TSC), the ␤-subunit of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), and the ␣ 1 -subunit of Na-K-ATPase. These relative differences in protein abundance in the kidney seemed to be attenuated some in 6-mo-old rats, as the rats became fully diabetic and the kidneys hypertrophied (3). The mechanisms underlying these changes in abundance, i.e., transcriptional vs. changes in protein turnover rate, were not determined.T...

Dietary fructose, NaCl, and/or saturated fat have been correlated with mean arterial pressure (MAP) rises in sensitive strains of rats. Dysregulation of sodium and/or water reabsorption by the kidney may contribute. Using radiotelemetry and parallel semiquantitative immunoblotting, we examined the effects of various diets on MAP and the regulation of abundance of the major renal sodium and water transport proteins in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In study 1, rats ( approximately 275 g) were fed one of four diets for 4 wk (n = 6/group): 1) control, 2) 65% fructose, 3) control + added NaCl (2.59%), or 4) fructose + NaCl. In study 2, 5% butter (fat) was added to the above four diets. Both fat and NaCl, but not fructose, caused modest rises in MAP (5-10 mmHg) and increased the day-to-night ratio in diastolic blood pressure. NaCl or fructose increased kidney size. Creatinine clearance was increased by salt or fat, and fractional excretion of sodium was decreased by fat. In study 1, high NaCl markedly reduced plasma renin and aldosterone and its regulated proteins in whole kidney, i.e., the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter and the alpha- and gamma (70-kDa band)-subunits of the epithelial sodium channel. These effects were blunted by fat. Fructose increased the abundance of the sodium phosphate cotransporter, whereas it decreased the bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter and aquaporin-2. Overall, doubling of dietary fat appeared to impair dietary sodium adaptation, i.e., blunt the downregulation of aldosterone-mediated effects, thus allowing blood pressure to rise at an accelerated rate.

Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with copious water and sodium losses. We hypothesized that the kidney compensates for these losses by increasing the abundances of key sodium and water transporters and channels. Using targeted proteomic analysis via immunoblotting of kidney homogenates, we examined comprehensive regulation of transport proteins. In three studies, streptozotocin (STZ; 65 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally to male Sprague-Dawley rats. In study 2, to control for potential renal toxicity of STZ, one group of STZ-treated rats was intensively treated with insulin to control diabetes. In another group, the reversibility of DM and related changes was assessed by treating animals with insulin for the final 4 days. In study 3, we correlated blood glucose to transporter changes by treating animals with different doses of insulin. In study 1, STZ treatment resulted in significantly increased band densities for the type 3 sodium/hydrogen exchanger (NHE3), the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (NCC), and epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits alpha, beta, and gamma (85- and 70-kDa bands) to 204, 125, 176, 132, 147, and 241% of vehicle mean, respectively. In study 2, aquaporin-2 (AQP2) and AQP3 were increased with DM, but not AQP1 or AQP4. Neither these changes, nor blood glucose itself, could be returned to normal by short-term intensive insulin treatment. Whole kidney abundance of AQP3, the bumetanide-sensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2), and gamma-ENaC (85-kDa band) correlated most strongly with blood glucose in study 3. These comprehensive changes would be expected to decrease volume contraction accompanying large-solute and water losses associated with DM.