Endocrinology, Vol 115, 544-549, Copyright © 1984 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Uncoupling of the parathyroid hormone receptor-adenylate cyclase system of canine kidney during dietary phosphorus deprivation

E Bellorin-Font, J Tamayo and KJ Martin

The mechanisms involved in the renal resistance to the phosphaturic action of PTH during dietary phosphorus deprivation remain ill defined. Previous studies in dogs from our laboratory demonstrated that baseline excretion of cAMP and the increment after administration of parathyroid extract were markedly reduced during dietary phosphorus deprivation. The present studies examine the initial events in the actions of PTH, namely receptor binding and adenylate cyclase activation, in renal cortical membranes from normal and phosphorus-deprived animals. Mongrel dogs were fed a diet deficient in phosphorus for 4-6 weeks. Plasma phosphorus fell from 4.2 +/- 0.4 to 1.4 +/- 0.3 mg/dl. In renal cortical membranes from these animals, basal adenylate cyclase activity was not different from that in control normal animals. However, PTH- stimulated enzyme activity was markedly reduced (5785 +/- 303 pmol cAMP/mg protein X 30 min in controls vs. 2612 +/- 406 pmol cAMP/mg protein X 30 min; P less than 0.01). Kact (PTH concentration for half- maximal enzyme activation) was unchanged. PTH receptor binding assessed with [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34]bovine PTH-(1-34) NH2 was not different in the two groups. The decreased PTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity was not corrected by GTP. Activation of adenylate cyclase by NaF was reduced in membranes from the phosphorus-deprived animals, whereas enzyme activation by guanylylimidodiphosphate was similar in both groups. Enzyme activity in the presence of Mn++ was not different from the control value. These data indicate that during dietary phosphorus deprivation there is uncoupling of the PTH receptor-adenylate system of canine kidney. This abnormality may play a role in the renal resistance to PTH during dietary phosphorus deprivation.