[Target sites and mechanisms of action of hormones along the nephron].

The development of specific microassays made it possible to analyse the distribution of target sites to various hormones along the successive nephron portions. Each of the hormones acting via cAMP generation was observed to stimulate adenylate cyclase in several well defined nephron portions. The review focuses on the diluting segment of the rat kidney where up to five different hormones were observed to stimulate adenylate cyclase. A negative modulation of AVP-induced cAMP generation in collecting tubule cells by specific agonists is then discussed. Finally, the review analyses the mechanisms through which mineralocorticoids and thyroid hormones control Na-K-ATPase expression in the terminal nephron portions.