LOCALIZATION OF AUTHENTIC THROMBOXANE A(2) PROSTAGLANDIN H-2-RECEPTORIN THE RAT-KIDNEY/

Using a polyclonal antibody against authentic thromboxane A(2)/prostag landin H-2 (TxA(2)/PGH(2)) receptor protein, we assessed the distribut ion of this receptor in the normal rat kidney by routine methods of im munofluorescence microscopy. The receptor localized both in glomeruli and in tubules. In the former, the distribution of the receptor was mo st prominent along the lumen of glomerular capillary loops. Parietal e pithelial cells of the Bowman's capsule, podocytes and mesangial cells also demonstrated immunostainable receptor. In the tubules, the recep tor localized most prominently at the base of the brush border of prox imal tubules and at the luminal surface of thick ascending limbs and d istal convoluted tubules. These observations point to sites that are l ikely to be targeted by thromboxane A(2) in forms of renal injury char acterized by enhanced synthesis of this eicosanoid.