Arginine Vasopressin Receptor Internalization and Recycling in Rat Renal Collecting Tubules

AbstractArginine vasopressin (AVP) binds to two distinct receptors to initiate vasopressor (VI receptor) and hydroosmotic actions (V2 receptor). Internalization and recycling of the VI receptor in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and hepatocytes have recently been demonstrated. However, the receptor cycle of the AVP V2 receptor in the renal collecting tubules has not yet been well defined. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the AVP V2 receptor cycle, including AVP binding to the surface receptor, internalization and potential recycling in isolated outer medullary collecting tubules. The maximal AVP surface binding was reached in 10 min, and 25, μg/ml trypsin completely in hibited the surface binding. A Scatchard plot of 125-AVP surface binding indicated a single population of V2 receptors with a Kd of 1.92×10−9 M and a Bmax of 1.77×10−11 M or 590 fmoles/mg protein. 81.7% (72-85%) of specific bound receptor was internalized (specific surface binding: 742.8±111.1 vs internalized...