This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 41/5/1131    most recent 01.HYP.0000066128.04083.CAv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jiang, G. Articles by O’Neill, W. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jiang, G. Articles by O’Neill, W. C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB PHENYLEPHRINE SPIRONOLACTONE Related Collections Hypertension - basic studies Ion channels/membrane transport

(Hypertension. 2003;41:1131.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Aldosterone Regulates the Na-K-2Cl Cotransporter in Vascular Smooth Muscle

Gengru Jiang; Scott Cobbs; Janet D. Klein; W. Charles O’Neill

From the Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Ga.

Correspondence to W. Charles O’Neill, MD, Emory University, Renal Division WMB 338, 1639 Pierce Dr, Atlanta, GA 30322. E-mail woneill{at}emory.edu

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Aldosterone increases cation transport and contractility of vascular smooth muscle, but the specific transporter involved and how it is linked to smooth muscle tone is unknown. Because the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) contributes to vascular smooth muscle contraction and is regulated by vasoactive compounds, we sought to determine whether this transporter is a target of aldosterone in rat aorta. Treatment of adrenalectomized rats with aldosterone for 7 days resulted in a 63% increase in NKCC1 activity as measured by bumetanide-sensitive efflux of ⁸⁶Rb⁺. Treatment of normal aortas in culture with aldosterone for 3 and 7 days resulted in 29% and 47% increases in NKCC1 activity, respectively. Aldosterone had no acute effect on ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux. Stimulation of NKCC1 was blocked by spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, but not by RU38486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. Aldosterone did not augment the stimulation of NKCC1 by phenylephrine and did not increase NKCC1 mRNA as determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We conclude that aldosterone regulates the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in vascular smooth muscle through classic mineralocorticoid receptors but not through changes in the abundance of NKCC1 mRNA. This could account for the increase in Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- fluxes previously observed in vascular smooth muscle from mineralocorticoid-treated animals and may contribute to increased vascular tone.

Key Words: aldosterone • muscle, smooth, vascular • rats • hypertension, mineralocorticoid • vasoconstriction

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone are required for the maintenance of sodium balance and vascular tone. Although the major action of aldosterone is to enhance sodium reabsorption in the collecting duct of the kidney, this cannot account for all of its hypertensive effects, and it is clear that vasculature is an important target of mineralocorticoids.¹ Arteries removed from mineralocorticoid-treated animals exhibit increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictors,^2,3 and a similar response is seen in vessels treated with aldosterone in vitro,⁴ indicating a direct action on vascular smooth muscle. Accordingly, mineralocorticoid receptors have been demonstrated in the arterial wall⁵ and in isolated smooth muscle cells.⁶

The mechanism responsible for increased contraction is unknown but may involve changes in Na⁺ transport akin to those in other mineralocorticoid-sensitive cells. Both the Na⁺ content and passive flux of Na⁺ are increased in vascular smooth muscle from mineralocorticoid-treated animals,^5,7 and both the mRNA and activity of the Na⁺ pump are increased.^7–10 This upregulation of the Na⁺ pump is probably secondary to increased Na⁺ influx because intracellular [Na⁺] is increased rather than decreased.^5,11 Although increased intracellular [Na⁺] could stimulate Ca influx through the Na-Ca exchange, thereby increasing contractility, Ca stores do not appear to be increased in vascular smooth muscle from mineralocorticoid-treated rats.¹² However, acute increases in intracellular [Ca] have been observed after treatment of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells with aldosterone.¹³

The source of the increased passive Na⁺ flux is unknown, but a likely candidate is the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC1. We have recently demonstrated that this transporter is acutely activated by vasoconstrictors and inhibited by nitrovasodilators in isolated rat aorta.¹⁴ In addition to the increase in Na⁺ flux, stimulation of NKCC1 could also account for the increased K⁺ and Cl^- fluxes^9,15 also observed in vascular smooth muscle from mineralocorticoid-treated animals. In fact, the increase in intracellular [Cl^-] in femoral artery of mineralocorticoid-treated, hypertensive rats is abolished by bumetanide,¹⁶ a specific inhibitor of NKCC1. Although this indicates an increased Cl^- influx via NKCC1, it is unclear whether this is due to the mineralocorticoid, the high salt diet, or the hypertension. Bumetanide also reduces isometric force generation in normal vascular smooth muscle,^14,17 indicating a role for NKCC1 in smooth muscle contraction. To determine whether the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in vascular smooth muscle is regulated by aldosterone, we measured bumetanide-sensitive fluxes in aortas from rats treated with aldosterone. Studies were also performed in normal aortas in culture to show that the regulation of NKCC1 was through a direct action of aldosterone on smooth muscle.

	Methods

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
In Vivo Studies
Male Sprague-Dawley rats (125 to 150 g; Charles River Laboratories, Wilmington, Mass) were adrenalectomized, then given 0.9% saline to drink and fed 23% protein chow ad libitum as described previously.¹⁸ After 14 days, osmotic minipumps (Model 2001, Alzet) containing 8.3 mg/mL aldosterone (Research Plus Inc) in 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in saline or vehicle alone were implanted subcutaneously in the midscapular region. The infusion rate was 8.3 µg/d (approximately 1.3 mg/kg per day). Rats were sacrificed after 7 days, and blood and aortas were collected. Serum aldosterone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay (Diagnostics Products Corp).

In Vitro Studies
Aortas proximal to the celiac axis were removed from normal rats and the adventitia was carefully dissected away, using sterile technique. Rings (0.5 cm in length) were placed in DMEM (low glucose) medium with penicillin and streptomycin, but no serum, and with aldosterone (50 nmol/L) or vehicle (DMSO; final concentration 0.001%). The vessels were maintained in a 5% CO₂ atmosphere at 37°C with medium changes every 3 days.

NKCC1 Assay
Activity was measured as bumetanide-sensitive ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux as previously described.¹⁴ Briefly, vessel segments were opened longitudinally and the endothelium removed with a cotton swab. They were then loaded with ⁸⁶Rb⁺ for 2 hours in a HEPES-buffered physiological saline solution containing 5.4 mmol/L K, 1.8 mmol/L Ca, and 0.8 mmol/L Mg. Steady-state loading of Rb⁺ requires 3 to 4 hours, but concern that changes occurring in vivo might dissipate over this time dictated a shorter loading period. Previous studies have revealed a single pool of intracellular Rb⁺ and no differences between fluxes after different loading times. After extensive washing, efflux of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ was measured over 10 minutes at 2 minutes intervals before and after addition of 50 µmol/L bumetanide (Figure 1). Results are expressed as the fraction of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ leaving the vessel per minute and the flux caused by NKCC1 is determined by subtracting the mean of the 3 values after 4 minutes of bumetanide from the mean of the 3 values just before addition of bumetanide.

View larger version (10K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Measurement of Na-K-2Cl cotransport in rat aorta. Efflux of 86Rb+ is constant and then drops to a lower, constant level after addition of 50 µmol/L bumetanide. Results are the means from a single assay performed in triplicate.

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Total RNA was prepared using a modified phenol-chloroform extraction from rat aorta previously frozen in liquid N₂ and stored at -80°C. RNA (2 µg) was converted into cDNA using ThermoScript RT reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen) and 200 ng was then amplified in an PE Biosystems real-time PCR unit using SYBR green dye. Forward and reverse primers for NKCC1 were CCACACCAACACCTACTAC and TGCGACCACAGCATCTCT, respectively, corresponding to nucleotides 743 to 761 and 956 to 973 of the rat NKCC1 cDNA (GenBank Accession No. U13174). Results were normalized to real-time PCR of rat ß-actin (GenBank Accession No. NM_031144) using the forward and reverse primers TGTTGTCCCTGTATGCCTCTGGTC and ATGTCACGCACGATTTCCCTCTCA, corresponding to (nucleotides 416 to 439 and 635 to 658).

Data Analysis
Results are expressed as the mean of the number of samples indicated. Errors are standard errors. Significance was determined by Student t test (2-tailed).

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Results from aortas of adrenalectomized rats treated with aldosterone are shown in Figure 2. Aldosterone increased total efflux of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ and decreased bumetanide-insensitive efflux slightly, resulting in a 63% increase in bumetanide-sensitive efflux (P<0.01). Plasma levels of aldosterone were 0.46±0.21 nmol/L in control rats, 0.06+0.01 nmol/L in adrenalectomized rats, and 0.6±0.03 nmol/L in adrenalectomized rats receiving aldosterone. To determine whether this was a direct effect of aldosterone on vascular smooth muscle, aortas were removed from normal rats and maintained in culture in the presence or absence of 50 nmol/L aldosterone. As shown in the Table, NKCC1 was also responsive to aldosterone in vitro but less so than in vivo (29% increase after 3 days, P<0.01; 48% after 7 days, P<0.001). Basal NKCC1 activity was similar to that in freshly isolated aortas from adrenalectomized rats. Bumetanide-insensitive ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux was not significantly changed by aldosterone in culture, but was substantially higher after 7 days in culture. Histology of aortas maintained in culture revealed an intact endothelium and media with no proliferation or loss of smooth muscle cells (not shown).

View larger version (33K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Regulation of rat aortic NKCC1 by aldosterone in vivo. Efflux of 86Rb+ in the absence and presence of 50 µmol/L bumetanide in aortas from adrenalectomized rats treated with vehicle (Control) or aldosterone (+Aldo). The right hand bars indicate the corresponding bumetanide-sensitive effluxes. Results are the means of 6 aortas, each assayed in triplicate. Error bars indicate standard error. *P<0.01 versus control.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Efflux of 86Rb From Aortas Treated With Aldosterone In Vivo and In Vitro

Most effects of aldosterone are mediated through classic mineralocorticoid receptors that affect DNA transcription. Immediate nongenomic effects on Na⁺ transport have also been proposed in vascular smooth muscle cells,¹⁹ but aldosterone had no immediate effect on ⁸⁶Rb⁺ efflux in rat aorta (Figure 3). The response to different concentrations of aldosterone in culture is shown in Figure 4. A 3-parameter exponential regression yielded a half-maximal concentration of aldosterone for stimulation of NKCC1 of 0.052±0.017 nmol/L, which is in the physiological range and consistent with the affinity of the mineralocorticoid receptor for aldosterone.⁵ Stimulation of NKCC1 was blocked by spironolactone (a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist), but not by RU38486, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist (Figure 5), indicating that it is mediated by classic mineralocorticoid receptors. The increase in NKCC1 activity with spironolactone is consistent with a partial agonist effect that may occur with spironolactones.^20,21

View larger version (14K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Lack of an immediate effect of aldosterone on rat aortic NKCC1. Efflux of 86Rb+ in the absence (solid symbols) and presence (open symbols) of 50 µmol/L bumetanide in normal rat aortas. Aldosterone (50 nmol/L) was added as indicated. Results are from a single aorta assayed in triplicate. Similar results were obtained in an additional experiment. Error bars indicate standard error.

View larger version (11K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. Dependence of NKCC1 activity on aldosterone concentration. Segments of aortas from 4 rats were placed in culture for 7 days with the concentrations of aldosterone indicated. Bumetanide-sensitive efflux of 86Rb+ was measured as described in Methods. Results are the means of quadruplicate determinations for each concentration. Error bars indicate standard error.

View larger version (27K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 5. Effect of receptor antagonists on the stimulation of NKCC1 by aldosterone. Efflux of 86Rb+ in the absence and presence of 50 µmol/L bumetanide in normal rat aortas cultured for 3 days with vehicle (Control) or aldosterone (+Aldo) and 5 mol/L spironolactone or 100 nmol/L RU38486. Results are presented as bumetanide-sensitive efflux and represent the means of triplicate determinations from a single aorta. Similar results were obtained in an additional experiment. Error bars indicate standard error. *P<0.05 versus control by paired analysis.

To determine whether aldosterone increases the quantity of cotransporters, we stimulated aldosterone-treated aortas with phenylephrine. This -adrenergic agent acutely stimulates NKCC1,¹⁴ and we reasoned that an increase in cotransporter quantity would augment the stimulation by phenylephrine. As seen in Figure 6, NKCC1 activity after phenylephrine was not greater in aortas cultured with aldosterone for 3 days. Because basal NKCC1 activity was greater in aldosterone-treated aortas, the stimulation by phenylephrine was actually reduced. Similar results were obtained in an additional experiment and in one experiment in aortas from adrenalectomized rats treated with aldosterone in vivo. To address this issue further, we measured NKCC1 mRNA by real-time PCR. This assay has been used to show increased NKCC1 mRNA expression in hypertensive rats (G. Jiang, F. Akar, S. Cobbs, K. Lomeshrili, R. Lakkis, F. Gordon, R. Sutliff, W. O’Neill, submitted for publication, 2003). In 3 separate experiments, each performed in triplicate, there was no increase in NKCC1 mRNA in aortas treated with aldosterone in culture for 3 days (2.82±0.29 vs 2.86±0.25 pg NKCC1 mRNA/ng ß-actin mRNA, aldosterone vs control).

View larger version (31K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 6. Effect of aldosterone on the activation of NKCC1 by phenylephrine. Efflux of 86Rb+ was measured in the absence and presence of 50 µmol/L bumetanide in normal rat aortas cultured for 3 days with vehicle (Control) or aldosterone (+Aldo). Efflux was measured for 10 minutes before (basal) and 10 minutes after (+ PE) addition of 10 µmol/L phenylephrine. Results are the means of a single aorta assayed in triplicate. Similar results were obtained in 2 other aortas after treatment with aldosterone in vitro or in vivo. Error bars indicate standard error. *P<0.05 versus basal.

	Discussion

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Our results demonstrate that activity of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in vascular smooth muscle is increased by the administration of aldosterone to adrenalectomized rats. This was due to a direct vascular action of aldosterone because stimulation of NKCC1 was also observed in culture. The concentrations of aldosterone capable of stimulating the cotransporter were physiological and consistent with other actions mediated by the classic mineralocorticoid receptor. The inhibition by spironolactone, but not by RU38486, confirmed involvement of this receptor. Activity of NKCC1 in aortas from adrenalectomized rats was similar to that previously reported in normal rat aorta¹⁴ indicating that mineralocorticoids are not required for NKCC1 activity. Although this is consistent with serum levels of aldosterone in normal rats that were indistinguishable from those in adrenalectomized rats, other adrenal steroids could contribute to basal mineralocorticoid action. It appears then that NKCC1 activity in vascular smooth muscle responds to increased aldosterone levels and participates in the adaptation to volume depletion or reduced cardiac output.

Stimulation of NKCC1 could explain the increased Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- fluxes previously noted in vascular smooth muscle from mineralocorticoid-treated rats.^5,7,9,11 Although we measured cotransporter activity as unidirectional efflux of Rb⁺ (as a tracer for K⁺), the transporter is bidirectional and the net flux under physiological conditions is inward because of the inward gradients for both Na⁺ and Cl^-. This is demonstrated by the reduction in [Cl^-]_i after treatment of vascular smooth muscle with bumetanide.²² Thus stimulation of NKCC1 by mineralocorticoid would be expected to increase [Cl^-]_i and at least partly explains the increased [Cl^-]_i in vascular smooth muscle from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-hypertensive rats.¹⁶ Intracellular [Cl^-] in vascular smooth muscle is substantially lower than extracellular [Cl^-], but above electrochemical equilibrium, enabling agonist-sensitive Cl^- channels to initiate a depolarization that leads to subsequent Ca influx via voltage-sensitive channels.^22,23 A reduction in [Cl^-]_i probably explains the reduced sensitivity of isometric force generation to phenylephrine in mice lacking NKCC1²⁴ and in normal aortas treated with bumetanide.^14,17 Likewise, an increase in [Cl^-]_i resulting from stimulation of NKCC1 could account for the increased sensitivity to vasoconstrictors produced by mineralocorticoids.^2–4

Stimulation of NKCC1 activity could explain the increase in intracellular [Na⁺] noted in mineralocorticoid-treated vascular smooth muscle.^5,11 This has been demonstrated in cardiac myocytes, in which bumetanide blocked the increase in Na⁺ influx produced by aldosterone.²⁵ An increase in intracellular Na⁺ could contribute to the contractile effect of NKCC1 by secondarily increasing Ca influx through Na-Ca exchange. However, Cl^- is the more likely mediator because Ca stores do not appear to be increased by mineralocorticoids¹² and because bumetanide does not inhibit the contractile response to KCl.¹⁴ The contraction produced by KCl is Ca-dependent but KCl directly depolarizes the membrane and therefore bypasses any effect of intracellular Cl^-. An acute increase in [Ca²⁺]_i produced by aldosterone in cultured smooth muscle cells could also contribute to increased smooth muscle tone¹³ but cannot be ascribed to NKCC1 because there was no acute stimulation of this transporter by aldosterone.

The coupled influx of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- ions produced by NKCC1, together with an obligate influx of water, results in an increase in cell volume. Consequently, NKCC1 is an important volume-regulatory transporter,²⁶ and stimulation of NKCC1 by growth factors²⁷ produces cell enlargement that may be required for cell growth.^28,29 Thus, stimulation of NKCC1 may contribute to smooth muscle hypertrophy and remodeling in addition to increased tone.

The mechanism by which aldosterone stimulates NKCC1 in vascular smooth muscle is unclear. The absence of an increase in NKCC1 mRNA or augmentation of the phenylephrine response suggests that there is not an increase in the number of transporters. In contrast, hypertension produced by aortic coarctation, which results in a similar stimulation of NKCC1, produces a 5-fold increase in NKCC1 mRNA (Jiang et al, submitted). Although a small increase in NKCC1 mRNA by aldosterone cannot be ruled out, the stimulation of NKCC1 by aldosterone clearly has a different mechanism. It is likely then that aldosterone is producing an indirect genomic stimulation of NKCC1 similar to its regulation of Na⁺ channels.³⁰ NKCC1 is acutely regulated through direct phosphorylation by a kinase that is activated by cell shrinkage and inhibited by intracellular Cl^-.^31,32 Because neither smooth muscle shrinkage nor a decrease in [Cl^-] seems likely, aldosterone could be inducing phosphorylation of NKCC1 through a different mechanism that is under genomic control. Vasoconstrictors also phosphorylate NKCC1 in rat aorta,¹⁴ and the fact that the stimulation of NKCC1 by aldosterone and phenylephrine were not additive suggests a common pathway.

Perspectives
The vasculature is an important target of mineralocorticoids, but the mechanism by which mineralocorticoids promote vascular tone is unknown. Previous studies have shown increased ion fluxes consistent with aldosterone action in the kidney, but the identity of the transporter(s) and how these fluxes contribute to increased tone were unclear. The finding that aldosterone increases the activity of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in rat aorta provides some important answers. Stimulation of this single transporter can explain the increased passive fluxes of Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- fluxes previously demonstrated in mineralocorticoid-treated rats, as well as upregulation of the Na-K pump secondary to increased [Na⁺]_i. The fact that this transporter contributes to force generation provides a plausible link between the increased ion fluxes and the increased vascular tone produced by mineralocorticoids. This inotropic effect of the cotransporter appears to be mediated by an increased [Cl^-]_i, indicating that aldosterone should be considered to be a Cl-retentive hormone as well as a Na-retentive hormone. The contribution of NKCC1 to smooth muscle tone may explain the weak vasodilatory response to loop diuretics, and our new results suggest that they might be particularly useful in treating mineralocorticoid-dependent hypertension. However, these drugs are highly protein-bound, and direct vasodilatory effects may occur only at very high clinical doses.¹⁴ The degree to which bumetanide blocks the vasoconstrictive and hypertensive effects of mineralocorticoids is an important issue that is currently being investigated.

Received July 1, 2002; first decision July 30, 2002; accepted February 28, 2003.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
1. Berecek KH, Bohr DF. Whole body vascular reactivity during the development of deoxycorticosterone acetate hypertension in the pig. Circ Res. 1978; 42: 764–771.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

2. Longhurst PA, Rice PJ, Taylor DA, Fleming WW. Sensitivity of caudal arteries and the mesenteric vascular bed to norepinephrine in DOCA-salt hypertension. Hypertension. 1988; 12: 133–142.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

3. Monney M, Schlegal PA, Brunner HR. Influence of sodium diet and deoxycorticosterone on the response to norepinephrine, lysine-vasopressin and angiotensin II of isolated perfused rat mesenteric arteries. Clin Exp Hypertens A. 1983; 5: 1735–1747.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

4. Ullian ME, Walsh LG, Morinelli TA. Potentiation of angiotensin II action by corticosteroids in vascular tissue. Cardiovasc Res. 1996; 32: 266–273.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

5. Kornel L. Studies on the mechanism of mineralocorticoid-induced hypertension: evidence for the presence of an in situ mechanism in the arterial wall for a direct action of mineralocorticoids. Clin Biochem. 1981; 14: 282–293.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

6. Scott BA, Lawrence B, Nguyen HH, Meyer WJ. Aldosterone and dexamethasone binding in human arterial smooth muscle cells. J Hypertens. 1987; 5: 739–744.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

7. Worcel M, Moura A-M. Arterial effects of aldosterone and antimineralocorticoid compounds. Mechanisms of action. J Steroid Biochem. 1987; 27: 865–869.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

8. Herrera VL, Chobanian AV, Ruiz-Opazo N. Isoform-specific modulation of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase alpha-subunit gene expression in hypertension. Science. 1988; 241: 221–223.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

9. Garwitz ET, Jones AW. Altered arterial ion transport and its reversal in aldosterone hypertensive rat. Am J Physiol. 1982; 243: H927–H933.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

10. Storm DS, Webb RC. -Adrenergic receptors and ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ efflux in arteries from deoxycorticosterone acetate hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 1992; 19: 734–738.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

11. Jones AW, Hart RG. Altered ion transport in aortic smooth muscle during deoxycorticosterone acetate hypertension in the rat. Circ Res. 1975; 37: 333–341.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

12. Perry PA, Webb RC. Agonist-sensitive calcium stores in arteries from steroid hypertensive rats. Hypertension. 1991; 17: 603–611.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

13. Wehling M, Neylon CB, Fullerton M, Bobik A, Funder JW. Nongenomic effects of aldosterone on intracellular Ca2+ in vascular smooth muscle cells. Circ Res. 1995; 76: 973–979.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

14. Akar F, Skinner E, Klein JD, Jena M, Paul RJ, O’Neill WC. Vasoconstrictors and nitrovasodilators reciprocally regulate the Na+-K+-2Cl^- cotransporter in rat aorta. Am J Physiol. 1999; 276: C1383–C1390.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

15. McMahon EG, Jones AW. Altered chloride transport in arteries from aldosterone salt-hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 1988; 6: 593–599.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

16. Davis JPL, Chipperfield AR, Harper AA. Accumulation of intracellular chloride by (Na-K-Cl) co-transport in rat arterial smooth muscle is enhanced in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)/salt hypertension. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 1993; 25: 233–237.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

17. Lamb FS, Barna TJ. Chloride ion currents contribute functionally to norepinephrine-induced vascular contraction. Am J Physiol. 1998; 275: H151–H160.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

18. Naruse M, Klein JD, Ashkar ZM, Jacobs JD, Sands JM. Glucocorticoids downregulate the rat vasopressin-regulated urea transporter in rat terminal inner medullary collecting ducts. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1997; 8: 517–523.[Abstract]

19. Christ M, Douwes K, Eisen C, Bechtner G, Theisen K, Wehling M. Rapid effects of aldosterone on sodium transport in vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertension. 1995; 25: 117–123.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

20. Mueller A, Steinmetz PR. Spironolactone: an aldosterone agonist in the stimulation of H⁺ secretion by turtle urinary bladder. J Clin Invest. 1978; 61: 1666–1670.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

21. Hulter HN, Bonner EL, Glynn RD, Sebastian A. Renal and systemic acid-base effects of chronic spironolactone administration. Am J Physiol. 1981; 240: F381–F387.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

22. Chipperfield AR, Harper AA. Chloride in smooth muscle. Prog Biophys Mol Biol. 2000; 74: 175–221.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

23. Kreye VAW, Ziegler FW. Anions and vascular smooth muscle function. Adv Microcirc. 1982; 11: 114–133.

24. Meyer JW, Flagella M, Sutliff RL, Lorenz JN, Nieman ML, Weber CS, Paul RJ, Shull GA. Decreased blood pressure and vascular smooth muscle tone in mice lacking basolateral Na-K-2Cl cotransporter. Am J Physiol. 2002; 283: H1846–H1855.

25. Mihailidou AS, Buhagiar KA, Rasmussen HH. Na⁺ influx and Na⁺-K⁺ pump activation during short-term exposure of cardiac myocytes to aldosterone. Am J Physiol. 1998; 274: C175–C181.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

26. O’Neill WC. Physiologic significance of volume-regulatory transporters. Am J Physiol. 1999; 276: C995–C1011.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

27. Jiang G, Klein JD, O’Neill WC. Growth factors regulate the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter through a novel Cl-dependent mechanism. Am J Physiol. 2001; 281: C1948–C1953.

28. Bussolati O, Uggeri J, Belletti S, Dall’Asta V, Gazzola GC. The stimulation of Na,K,Cl cotransport and of system A for neutral amino acid transport is a mechanism for cell volume increase during cell cycle. FASEB J. 1996; 10: 920–926.[Abstract]

29. Panet R, Markus M, Atlan H. Bumetanide and furosemide inhibited vascular endothelial cell proliferation. J Cell Physiol. 1994; 158: 121–127.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

30. Garty H, Palmer LG. Epithelial sodium channels: function, structure, and regulation. Physiol Rev. 1997; 77: 359–396.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

31. Lytle C, Forbush B III. The Na-K-Cl cotransport protein of shark rectal gland. II. Regulation by direct phosphorylation. J Biol Chem. 1992; 267: 25438–25443.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

32. Lytle C, Forbush B. Regulatory phosphorylation of the secretory Na-K-Cl cotransporter: modulation by cytoplasmic Cl. Am J Physiol. 1996; 270: C437–C448.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Garg, C. F. Martin, S. C. Elms, F. J. Gordon, S. M. Wall, C. J. Garland, R. L. Sutliff, and W. C. O'Neill Effect of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter NKCC1 on systemic blood pressure and smooth muscle tone Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2007; 292(5): H2100 - H2105. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. N. Orlov NKCC1 as a regulator of vascular tone and a novel target for antihypertensive therapeutics Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2007; 292(5): H2035 - H2036. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Gros, Q. Ding, S. Armstrong, C. O'Neil, J. G. Pickering, and R. D. Feldman Rapid effects of aldosterone on clonal human vascular smooth muscle cells Am J Physiol Cell Physiol, February 1, 2007; 292(2): C788 - C794. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Wouters, A. D. Laet, L. V. Donck, E. Delpire, P.-P. van Bogaert, J.-P. Timmermans, A. de Kerchove d'Exaerde, K. Smans, and J.-M. Vanderwinden Subtractive hybridization unravels a role for the ion cotransporter NKCC1 in the murine intestinal pacemaker Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol, June 1, 2006; 290(6): G1219 - G1227. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Wall, M. A. Knepper, K. A. Hassell, M. P. Fischer, A. Shodeinde, W. Shin, T. D. Pham, J. W. Meyer, J. N. Lorenz, W. H. Beierwaltes, et al. Hypotension in NKCC1 null mice: role of the kidneys Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, February 1, 2006; 290(2): F409 - F416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Wall, Y. H. Kim, L. Stanley, D. M. Glapion, L. A. Everett, E. D. Green, and J. W. Verlander NaCl Restriction Upregulates Renal Slc26a4 Through Subcellular Redistribution: Role in Cl- Conservation Hypertension, December 1, 2004; 44(6): 982 - 987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. A. Lomashvili, S. Cobbs, R. A. Hennigar, K. I. Hardcastle, and W. C. O'Neill Phosphate-Induced Vascular Calcification: Role of Pyrophosphate and Osteopontin J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., June 1, 2004; 15(6): 1392 - 1401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Palacios, E. T. Marusic, N. C. Lopez, M. Gonzalez, and L. Michea Estradiol-induced expression of Na+-K+-ATPase catalytic isoforms in rat arteries: gender differences in activity mediated by nitric oxide donors Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2004; 286(5): H1793 - H1800. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Jiang, F. Akar, S. L. Cobbs, K. Lomashvilli, R. Lakkis, F. J. Gordon, R. L. Sutliff, and W. C. O'Neill Blood pressure regulates the activity and function of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in vascular smooth muscle Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2004; 286(4): H1552 - H1557. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 41/5/1131    most recent 01.HYP.0000066128.04083.CAv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jiang, G. Articles by O’Neill, W. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jiang, G. Articles by O’Neill, W. C. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB PHENYLEPHRINE SPIRONOLACTONE Related Collections Hypertension - basic studies Ion channels/membrane transport