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Abstract The distal convoluted tubule reabsorbs significant amounts of filtered magnesium that is under hormonal control. In this study, we describe the effects of aldosterone on Mg21 uptake in an immortalized mouse distal convoluted tubule (MDCT) cell line. Intracellular free Mg21 concentration ([Mg21]i) was determined on single MDCT cells using microfluorescence with mag-fura 2. To determine Mg21 entry rate into MDCT cells, they were first Mg21 depleted ([Mg21]i, 0.22 6 0.01 mM) by culturing in Mg21-free media for 16 h and then placed in 1.5mMMgCl2. The rate of change in [Mg21]i as measured as a function of time, d([Mg21]i)/dt, was 164 6 5 nM/s in control cells. We have shown that glucagon or arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulates Mg21 entry by 63% and 15%, respectively. Incubation of MDCT cells with aldosterone for 16 h did not change the rate of Mg21 uptake (172 6 8 nM/s). However, aldosterone potentiated glucagon- and AVP-stimulated Mg21 uptake rate up to 330 6 39 and 224 6 6 nM/s, respectively. Aldosterone also potentiated glucagon- and AVP-induced intracellular cAMP accumulation in a concentration-independent manner. As cAMP stimulates Mg21 entry in MDCT cells, it is inferred that aldosterone may stimulate Mg21 uptake through intracellular signaling pathways involving cAMP. The actions of aldosterone were dependent on de novo protein synthesis, as pretreatment of the cells with cycloheximide inhibited aldosterone potentiation of hormone stimulation of Mg21 uptake and cAMP accumulation. These studies with MDCT cells suggest that aldosterone may modulate the effects of hormones acting within the distal convoluted tubule to control magnesium absorption.

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Abstract The distal convoluted tubule plays a significant role in renal magnesium conservation. An immortalized mouse distal convoluted tubule (MDCT) cell line has been extensively used to study the cellular mechanisms of magnesium transport in this nephron segment. MDCT cells possess an extracellular polyvalent cation-sensing mechanism responsive to Mg21, Ca21, and neomycin. The present studies determined the effect of Mg21/ Ca21 sensing on hormone-mediated cAMP formation and Mg21 uptake in MDCT cells. MDCT cells were Mg21 depleted by culturing in Mg21-free media for 16 h, and Mg21 uptake was measured by microfluorescence after placing the depleted cells in 1.5 mM MgCl2. The mean rate of Mg21 uptake was 164 6 5 nM/s in control MDCT cells. Activation of Mg21/Ca21 sensing with neomycin did not affect basal Mg21 uptake (155 6 5 nM/s). We have previously reported that treatment of MDCT cells with either glucagon or arginine vasopressin (AVP) stimulated Mg21 entry. In the present studies, the addition of extracellular Mg21 or Ca21 inhibited glucagon- and AVP-stimulated cAMP formation and Mg21 uptake in concentration-dependent manner with half-maximal concentrations of ,1.5 and 3.0 mM, respectively. Exogenous cAMP or forskolin stimulated Mg21 uptake in the presence of Mg21/Ca21 sensing activation.We infer from these studies that Mg21/Ca21-sensing mechanisms located in the distal convoluted tubule may play a role in control of distal magnesium absorption.