FUROSEMIDE TREATMENT ALTERS THE DISTRIBUTION OF KALLIKREIN GENE-EXPRESSION IN KIDNEYS OF MICE

The renal kallikrein gene is normally expressed in convoluted distal a nd connecting tubules of the renal cortex. After furosemide treatment of mice there was strong expression also in the distal thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle in the renal outer medulla. This expansion of the kallikrein-expressing distal tubule cell population did not occ ur in mice on a sodium-restricted diet, in sodium-restricted mice give n a high potassium diet or in untreated controls. Although the overall level of kallikrein gene expression was significantly greater in kidn eys from furosemide-treated mice than in any other group, there was no detectable change in renal kallikrein gene expression in the submandi bular glands after any of the treatments.