Elsevier

Kidney International

Volume 65, Issue 5, May 2004, Pages 1774-1781
Kidney International

Ion Channels – Membrane Transport – Integrative Physiology
Estrogen and progesterone regulate α, β, and γENaC subunit mRNA levels in female rat kidney

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1523-1755.2004.00593.xGet rights and content
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Estrogen and progesterone regulate α, β, and γENaC subunit mRNA levels in female rat kidney.

Background

Estrogen and progesterone regulate α, β, and γ amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunit mRNA levels in female rat kidney. Renal Na+ handling differs between males and females. Further, within females Na+ metabolism changes during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Electrolyte homeostasis and extracellular fluid volume are maintained primarily by regulated transport of Na+ via the amiloride-sensitive Na+ channel. This study examines the role of the female gender steroids in the regulation of expression of ENaC.

Methods

We measured ENaC subunit mRNA levels in rat kidney using Northern blotting. Kidneys were taken from male and females at different ages and from adult ovariectomized rats treated with 17-β-estradiol benzoate (estrogen) and/or progesterone for 8 or 24 hours.

Results

The abundance of α, β, and γENaC mRNA was significantly higher in female compared to male rat kidneys from 10 weeks of age (P = 0.001, P = 0.004, and P = 0.02, N = 10, respectively). These differences were abolished in ovariectomized rats. Treatment of ovariectomized rats with estrogen increased αENaC mRNA abundance in the kidney at both 8 and 24 hours (P < 0.05, N = 6; and P < 0.05, N = 7, respectively). Progesterone inhibited the effect of estrogen on αENaC mRNA at 8 hours but when given alone increased γENaC mRNA (P < 0.05, N = 3). Neither hormone, alone or in combination, had any significant effect on βENaC mRNA levels at 8 or 24 hours.

Conclusion

Female gonadal steroids differentially modulate expression of ENaC subunit mRNA in the rat kidney.

Keywords

ENaC
hormone
kidney

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