Extracellular nucleotides regulate NaCl transport in some epithelia. Howeve
r, the effects of nucleotide agonists on NaCl transport in the renal inner
medullary collecting duct (IMCD) are not known. The objective of this study
was to determine whether ATP and related nucleotides regulate NaCl transpo
rt across mouse IMCD cell line (mIMCD-K2) epithelial monolayers and, if so,
via what purinergic receptor subtypes. ATP and UTP inhibited Na+ absorptio
n [measured via Na+ short-circuit current (I-sc(Na))] and stimulated Cl- se
cretion [measured via Cl- short-circuit current (I-sc(Cl))]. Using selectiv
e P2 agonists, we report that P2X and P2Y purinoceptors regulate I-sc(Na) a
nd I-sc(Cl). By RT-PCR, two P2X receptor channels (P2X(3), P2X(4)) and two
P2Y G protein-coupled receptors (P2Y(1), P2Y(2)) were identified. Functiona
l localization of P2 purinoceptors suggest that I-sc(Cl) is stimulated by a
pical membrane-resident P2Y purinoceptors and P2X receptor channels, wherea
s I-sc(Na) is inhibited by apical membrane-resident P2Y purinoceptors and P
2X receptor channels. Together, we conclude that nucleotide agonists inhibi
t I-sc(Na) across mIMCD-K2 monolayers through interactions with P2X and P2Y
purinoceptors expressed on the apical plasma membrane, whereas extracellul
ar nucleotides stimulate I-sc(Cl) through interactions with P2X and P2Y pur
inoceptors expressed on the apical plasma membrane.