Renal action of cholera toxin: I. Effects on urinary excretion of electrolytes and cyclic AMP

Renal action of cholera toxin: I. Effects on urinary excretion of electrolytes and cyclic AMP. The infusion of cholera toxin (CT), 4 µg/min, into one renal artery of normal and thyroparathyroidectomized (T-PTX) dogs produced ipsilateral increments in the excretion of Na, K, Ca, Mg and Cl. Phosphate excretion increased from both kidneys, but more from the infused kidney in intact dogs. Unilateral phosphaturia occurred in T-PTX dogs studied five or more days after T-PTX. The changes in electrolyte excretion appeared 40 to 80 min after initiation of CT infusion and the maximal effects were noted after 100 to 140 min. The effects of CT on electrolyte excretion could not be accounted for by changes in glomerular filtration rate or renal plasma flow. Urinary cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) increased from both kidneys but slightly more from the infused kidney. Adenylate cyclase activity of cortex and outer medulla of the infused kidney was 109 to 142% higher than that of the control kidney. The results indicate that CT decreases the net transport of various electrolytes by the renal tubule. This effect is probably mediated by the activation of renal adenylate cyclase(s) sensitive to the enterotoxin.