Effects of variations in food intake on renal sodium pump activity and its gene expression in Psammomys kidney

Psammomys obesus lives in an arid environment and feeds on saltbush. When animals are fed a laboratory diet, urine osmolarity drops. To explore the mechanism(s) of water conservation, we measured renal function, kidney solute content, Na-K-ATPase activity, and mRNA in several groups: group I (saltbush diet, 18 g/day, 4.2 g protein); group II (laboratory diet, 10 g/day, 1.8 g protein); and group III, the same as group I, and group IV, the same as group II, both plus a 1-day fast. Urine osmolarity was 2,223 +/- 160, 941 +/- 144, 1,122 +/- 169 and 648 +/- 70.9 mosM in groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Tissue osmolarities in cortex, outer medulla, and inner medulla, respectively, were 349 +/- 14, 644 +/- 63, and 1,152 +/- 34 mu osM/mg tissue in group I; 317 +/- 24, 493 +/- 17, and 766 +/- 60 mu osM/mg tissue in group II; 335 +/- 6,582 +/- 15, 707 +/- 35 mu osM/mg tissue in group III; and 314 +/- 18, 490 +/- 22, and 597 +/- 29 mu osM/mg tissue in group IV. There were no differences in Na-K-ATPase activity and mRNA in cortex and in medulla between groups I and II, whereas in group III Na-K-ATPase activity and mRNA increased in cortex and outer medulla. These results suggest a key role for urea in corticomedullary osmotic gradient of Psammomys. The absence of differences in Na-K-ATPase activity and mRNA between groups I and II despite differences in tissue sodium concentrations is consistent with Na-K-ATPase-independent Na absorption. Increased Na-K-ATPase activity and mRNA in fasting suggest transition to Na-K-ATPase-dependent Na transport.