Immunocytochemical characterization of carbonic anhydrase-rich cells in the rat kidney collecting duct.

Immunocytochemical detection of carbonic anhydrase (CA II), (Na+-K+)-ATPase and the anion channel (band 3) glycoprotein was used to study structural and functional heterogeneity of cells lining the collecting ducts, especially of intercalated cells, in the rat kidney. High content of CA II was found in intercalated cells as determined by morphology, although a weak diffuse cytoplasmic staining of this enzyme could be observed also in a subpopulation of principal cells. (Na+-K+)-ATPase could be detected exclusively in principal cells, whereas basolateral band 3 immunoreactivity was seen only in a subpopulation of intercalated cells. Double immunostaining experiments revealed that the weak cytoplasmic type of CA II and basolateral (Na+-K+)-ATPase immunoreactivities were colocalized in 20 to 30% (depending on the segment studied) of the collecting duct epithelial cells but, in contrast, cells rich in CA II or those with basal band 3 immunoreactivity seldom contained (Na+-K+)-ATPase. Instead, band 3 glycoprotein and the abundant CA II were colocalized in 20 to 35% of the cells in various segments of collecting ducts, whereas, band 3 and weak cytoplasmic CA II were seldom seen in the same cells. The results show that the current approach is useful for identifying and characterizing two distinct subpopulations of intercalated cells, both rich in CA II but differing in respect to the presence or absence of band 3 glycoprotein. On the basis of physiologic and biochemical data of the functions of these transport proteins we propose that the subpopulations of intercalated cells thus identified represent the acidifying and alkalinizing subtypes, respectively.