Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 and 18 months old were treated with 0.02 % methimazole (w/v) during 28 days. Renal function was examined and NO synthase (NOS) activity ([14C (U)]-L-arginine to [14C (U)]-L-citrulline assays), NOS, caveolin-1 and -3 and AQP2 protein levels were determined in medullary tissue (Western blot). Plasma membrane fraction and intracellular vesicle fraction of AQP2 were evaluated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry.
A divergent response was observed in hypothyroid rats: while young rats exhibited polyuria with decreased medullary NOS activity, adult rats exhibited a decrease in urine output with increased NOS activity. AQP2 was increased with hypothyroidism, but while young rats exhibited increased AQP2 in plasma membrane, adult rats did so in the cytosolic site.
Hypothyroidism contributes in a differential way to aging-induced changes in renal function, and medullary NO and AQP2 would be implicated in maintaining water homeostasis.