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A role for Rhesus factor Rhcg in renal ammonium excretion and male fertility

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  • Sophie Biver

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Laboratoires de Biologie du Développement et de Physiologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, Rue Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium)

  • Hendrica Belge

    (Université catholique de Louvain (U.C.L.), Avenue Hippocrate, 54, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Soline Bourgeois

    (Institute of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland
    INSERM UMRS 872; Université Paris-Descartes
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie)

  • Pascale Van Vooren

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Laboratoires de Biologie du Développement et de Physiologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, Rue Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium)

  • Marta Nowik

    (Institute of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland)

  • Sophie Scohy

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Laboratoires de Biologie du Développement et de Physiologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, Rue Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium
    Present address: Delphi Genetics, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium.)

  • Pascal Houillier

    (INSERM UMRS 872; Université Paris-Descartes
    Université Pierre et Marie Curie)

  • Josiane Szpirer

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Laboratoires de Biologie du Développement et de Physiologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, Rue Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium)

  • Claude Szpirer

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Laboratoires de Biologie du Développement et de Physiologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, Rue Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium)

  • Carsten A. Wagner

    (Institute of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich CH-8057, Switzerland)

  • Olivier Devuyst

    (Université catholique de Louvain (U.C.L.), Avenue Hippocrate, 54, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium)

  • Anna Maria Marini

    (Université Libre de Bruxelles (U.L.B.), Institut de Biologie et de Médecine Moléculaires, Laboratoires de Biologie du Développement et de Physiologie Moléculaire de la Cellule, Rue Professeurs Jeener et Brachet, 12, B-6041 Gosselies, Belgium)

Abstract

The kidney has an important role in the regulation of acid–base homeostasis. Renal ammonium production and excretion are essential for net acid excretion under basal conditions and during metabolic acidosis. Ammonium is secreted into the urine by the collecting duct, a distal nephron segment where ammonium transport is believed to occur by non-ionic NH3 diffusion coupled to H+ secretion. Here we show that this process is largely dependent on the Rhesus factor Rhcg. Mice lacking Rhcg have abnormal urinary acidification due to impaired ammonium excretion on acid loading—a feature of distal renal tubular acidosis. In vitro microperfused collecting ducts of Rhcg-/- acid-loaded mice show reduced apical permeability to NH3 and impaired transepithelial NH3 transport. Furthermore, Rhcg is localized in epididymal epithelial cells and is required for normal fertility and epididymal fluid pH. We anticipate a critical role for Rhcg in ammonium handling and pH homeostasis both in the kidney and the male reproductive tract.

Suggested Citation

  • Sophie Biver & Hendrica Belge & Soline Bourgeois & Pascale Van Vooren & Marta Nowik & Sophie Scohy & Pascal Houillier & Josiane Szpirer & Claude Szpirer & Carsten A. Wagner & Olivier Devuyst & Anna Ma, 2008. "A role for Rhesus factor Rhcg in renal ammonium excretion and male fertility," Nature, Nature, vol. 456(7220), pages 339-343, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:456:y:2008:i:7220:d:10.1038_nature07518
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07518
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