Anti sense DNA down-regulates proteins kinase C-epsilon and enhances vasopressin-stimulated Na+ absorption in rabbit cortical collecting duct.

Hormonal activation of protein kinase C (PKC) is a major signaling mechanism regulating salt and water transport in the distal nephron. We used antisense DNA to down-regulate a PKC isoform in the rabbit cortical collecting duct (CCD) and examined its role in mediating arginine vasopressin's (AVP) effect on salt transport in the CCD. Immunoblots demonstrate that PKC-epsilon (diacylglycerol sensitive) and PKC-zeta (diacylglycerol insensitive) are the major PKC isoforms in both freshly isolated and primary cultures of rabbit CCDs.