Urea transporter mRNA in papilla and pelvic epithelium of kidney in normal and low protein fed sheep

Abstract

An urea transporter (UT) cDNA fragment, sharing high identity with rabbit, rat and human UT-A2, was cloned by RT-PCR from papilla and upper pelvic epithelium of sheep kidney. Quantitative RT-PCR after low protein diets disclosed, compared to normal protein fed sheep, a signifi cant reduction in UT mRNA levels in pelvic epithelium (852 ± 172 vs 2024 ± 260 molecules; P<0.01) and a tendency to its increase in papilla (7959 ± 1741 vs 5447 ± 1040 molecules; NS). The reduction of UT expression in the upper pelvic epithelium could be relevant for the renal urea conservation in protein-restricted sheep.