Oxytocin induces apical and basolateral redistribution of aquaporin-2 in rat kidney

The aquaporin-2 (AQP2) water channel is mainly located in the apical plasma membrane of collecting duct epithelial cells, but there has been some evidence of a moderate amount of basolateral localization of AQP2 at least in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Previous in vitro microperfusion studies showed that oxytocin has an antidiuretic action, most likely mediated by the vasopressin V-2 receptor (V2R) in rat IMCD. By using immunohistochemistry in kidneys from male Sprague-Dawley rats, we observed acute effects of oxytocin on AQP2 localization which were prevented by a V2R antagonist. After intraperitoneal administration of oxytocin <LF>(10 U), immunohistochemistry of IMCD revealed that AQP2 was shifted from diffuse cytoplasmic localization in controls to the apical and basolateral membrane domains in oxytocin-treated rats. This pattern of AQP2 redistribution was noted in connecting tubule, cortical collecting duct and outer medullary collecting duct as well as in IMCD, although the tendency to basolateral localization was somewhat less. The pretreatment using a V2R antagonist blocked redistribution of AQP2 in response to oxytocin. We conclude that oxytocin induces a V2R-mediated redistribution of AQP2-containing cytoplasmic vesicles to both apical and basolateral plasma membrane domains in rat kidney. Oxytocin may be one of the factors that accounts for vasopressin-independent AQP2 targeting in the kidney. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.