The epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) promotes the absorption of Na+ in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron, colon, and respiratory epithelia. Deletion of genes encoding ENaC's subunits results in early post-natal mortality. We present initial characterization of a mouse with dramatically suppressed expression of ENaC's γ subunit. We used this hypomorphic (γmt) allele to explore the importance of this subunit in homeostasis of electrolytes and body fluid volume. At baseline, γ subunit expression in γmt/mt mice was markedly suppressed in kidney and lung, while electrolytes resembled those of littermate controls. Aldosterone levels in γmt/mt mice exceeded those seen in littermate controls. Quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) measurement of body composition revealed similar baseline body water, lean tissue mass, and fat tissue mass in γmt/mt mice and controls. γmt/mt mice exhibited a more rapid decline in body water and lean tissue mass in response to a low Na+ diet than controls. Replacement of drinking water with 2% saline selectively and transiently increased body water and lean tissue mass in γmt/mt mice, relative to controls. Lower blood pressures were variably observed in γmt/mt mice on a high salt diet, compared to controls. γmt/mt also exhibited reduced diurnal blood pressure variation, a "non-dipping" phenotype, on a high Na+ diet. While ENaC in renal tubules and colon work to prevent extracellular fluid volume depletion, our observations suggest that ENaC in other tissues may participate in regulating extracellular fluid volume and blood pressure.
Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis in a Mouse Model with Reduced ENaC Gamma Subunit Expression