Synthesis of prostaglandin E2 in different segments of isolated collecting tubules from adult and neonatal rabbits.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibits the action of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in isolated collecting tubules. A negative feedback loop has been postulated whereby ADH stimulates PGE2 synthesis. Furthermore, lysyl-bradykinin (LBK) inhibits the antidiuretic effect of ADH, probably via PGE2. Enhanced PGE2 synthesis has also been implicated as contributing to the inability to maximally concentrate urine during the neonatal period. We investigated PGE2 synthesis in microdissected cortical (CCT), medullary (MCT), and branched cortical (BCT) collecting tubules from adult and in corticomedullary collecting tubules (CT) from newborn rabbits. Isolated BCT produced significantly less PGE2 (12 +/- 2 pg X mm-1 X 20 min-1) than CCT (65 +/- 9) or MCT (76 +/- 8) from kidneys of adult rabbits. CT from newborn rabbits produced only 19 +/- 3 pg/mm, significantly less than either CCT or MCT from adults. A large variability in basal PGE2 production and hormonal response was observed from tubule to tubule. Under either basal conditions or in the presence of 2 microM arachidonic acid, LBK enhanced PGE2 synthesis in CCT and MCT from adults. ADH enhanced PGE2 production in MCT under basal conditions and in CCT in the presence of arachidonic acid. Neither LBK nor ADH stimulated PGE2 synthesis in neonatal CT. A23187 consistently stimulated PGE2 synthesis in CCT and MCT from adults and, to a lesser extent, in CT from newborn rabbits. Our results support the hypothesis that ADH and LBK enhance PGE2 synthesis in the collecting tubule. This response is, however, subject to large variations from tubule to tubule and depends on the in vitro incubation conditions.