Progesterone inhibits K conductance in plasma membrane of cultured renal epitheloid MDCK cells.
Progesterone causes natriuresis, an effect largely attributed to displacement of aldosterone from its receptor. The present study, however, demonstrates that progesterone (0.1, 1, and 10 mumol/1, respectively) also causes a rapid, fully reversible depolarization of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells (by 1.3 +/- 0.5, 4.1 +/- 0.7 and 12.3 +/- 1.5 mV, respectively). 17 alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone and dihydroxytestosterone are, by two orders of magnitude, less effective, whereas cholesterol, aldosterone, hydrocortisone, and estradiol (each up to 10 mumol/l) did not significantly alter the potential difference across the cell membrane. The effect of progesterone is blunted by antiprogestogen RU 486 (5 mumol/l). The progesterone-induced depolarization is paralleled by a decrease of potassium selectivity and an increase of cell membrane resistance and is abolished in the presence of the potassium channel blocker barium (10 mmol/l), as well as in the presence of 40 mmol/l potassium in the extracellular fluid. Neither removal of extracellular chloride or bicarbonate nor amiloride, ouabain, or pretreatment with pertussis toxin abolish the depolarizing effect of 5 mumol/l progesterone. In conclusion, acute administration of progesterone depolarizes MDCK cells by decreasing the potassium conductance of the cell membrane.
Steidl
M
M
Institute for Physiology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Pinggera
G
G
Ritter
M
M
Lang
F
F
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004848:Epithelium; D007668:Kidney; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015221:Potassium Channels; D011374:Progesterone