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Biomedical subjects

S G Schultz

Publications and source records attributed to S G Schultz.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Reconstitution of a calcium-activated potassium channel in basolateral membranes of rabbit colonocytes into planar lipid bilayers.

A highly enriched preparation of basolateral membrane vesicles was isolated from rabbit distal colon surface epithelial cells employing the method described by Wiener, Turnheim and van Os (Weiner, H., Turnheim, K., van Os, C.H. (1989) J. Membrane Biol. 110:147-162) and incorporated into planar lipid bilayers. With very few exceptions, the channel activity observed was that of a high conductance. Ca2+-activated K+ channel. This channel is highly selective for K+ over Na+ and Cl-, displays voltage-gating similar to "maxi" K(Ca) channels found in other cell membranes, and kinetic analyses are consistent with the notion that K+ diffusion through the channel involves either the binding of a single K+ ion to a site within the channel or "single-filing" ("multi-ion occupancy"). Channel activity is inhibited by the venom from the scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus, Ba2+, quinine, and trifluoperazine. The possible role of this channel in the function of these cells is discussed.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗

Reconstitution of an inwardly rectifying potassium channel from the basolateral membranes of Necturus enterocytes into planar lipid bilayers.

Basolateral membrane vesicles from Necturus enterocytes, highly (greater than 20-fold) enriched in Na+,K+-ATPase, were reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers. The principal channel activity observed is selective for K+ over Na+ and Cl-. This K+ channel is blocked by Ba2+ and Leiurus quinquestriatus venom but is not affected by Ca2+ over the range of 10(-3) to less than 10(-7) M and is not inhibited by charybdotoxin. L. quinquestriatus venom also markedly reduces the conductance of the basolateral membrane of intact villus cells of Necturus small intestine. The open-time probability (Po) of the channel displays a voltage-dependence characteristic of an "inward rectifier"; i.e., the channel inactivates when the basolateral membrane is depolarized and Po increases with increasing hyperpolarization of that barrier. Assuming that similar properties prevail under physiological conditions, this characteristic could provide, in part, an explanation for the parallelism between Na+-pump and K+-leak activities of the basolateral membrane observed in this epithelium. Thus, an increase in rheogenic Na+-pump activity at the basolateral membrane would hyperpolarize that barrier and, in turn, increase the open time of this K+ channel.

Animals↗

Sodium-coupled glycine uptake by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells results in an increase in cell volume and plasma membrane channel activities.

The addition of 10 mM glycine to a physiological saline bathing Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is followed by a slow increase in cell volume that plateaus between 15 and 30 min at a level approximately equal to 17% greater than the control volume; this increase is not observed when glycine is added to cells suspended in a Na+-free saline. The results of studies using the patch-clamp technique in the cell-attached mode indicate that, 0.5-3 min after the addition of glycine to the bathing solution, there is a marked increase in the activity of single channels, which is almost all instances were previously present and operant in the plasma membrane. Successfully excised patches of membrane that contained a channel stimulated by glycine fell into two categories. Some became inactive within 15 sec in spite of the fact that the G omega seal remained intact. Others persisted for the lifetime of the seal. All of the persistent channels had an 11-fold selectivity for Cl- over K+ and a conductance of 23 pS when bathed by symmetrical 150 mM KCl solutions. Although the ionic specificities of the other channels have not been identified, there is reason to suspect that they might be K+ channels whose activities are dependent on factors lost when the patch is excised. Swelling induced by exposing these cells to a 50% hypotonic perfusate stimulated the activities of Cl- channels whose properties closely resemble those stimulated by the addition of glycine to the perfusate, strongly suggesting that the glycine-induced stimulation of Cl- channel activity is part of a volume-regulatory response to cell swelling. If the increase in channel activity induced by the addition of glycine to the perfusate is indeed a response to cell swelling, then this perfusate is indeed a response to cell swelling, then this volume-regulatory response must be extremely sensitive inasmuch as it appears to be "triggered" by an average increase in cell volume that does not exceed 5%.

Animals↗

Localization of calmodulin in the enterocyte of Necturus small intestine.

Calmodulin was localized in the small intestine of Necturus maculosa at both the light- and electron-microscopic levels utilizing an affinity-purified, monospecific antibody and immunoperoxidase cytochemistry. The microvilli and basolateral membranes of the epithelium were highly reactive, the cytoplasm was moderately reactive. Connective tissue, endothelia, and muscularis of the submucosa were also reactive. The mitochondrial matrix, nuclear envelope, and terminal web, and mucous granules of goblet cells were unreactive. Omission of the primary antibody, substitution of immunoglobulin not bound to the affinity column or inappropriate immunoglobulin (sheep anti-viral src product) for the primary antibody, caused no immunoreaction product to be formed.

Animals↗

Cell Na+ activities and transcellular Na+ absorption by descending colon from normal and Na+-deprived rabbits.

The relation between intracellular Na+ activities, (Na)c, determined employing Na+-selective microelectrodes, and the rates of active Na+ absorption, INa, by rabbit descending colon was examined when INa was varied over a wide range by chronic dietary Na+ deprivation. (Na)c averaged 13 mM and was independent of INa over a sixfold range. Further, the ratios of the slope resistance of the apical membrane (rm) to that of the basolateral membrane (rs) (i.e. rm/rs) in low-transporters (control diet) and high-transporters (Na+-deprived) did not differ significantly inspite of the fact that the Na+ conductance of the apical membranes of high-transporters was, on the average, three times greater than that of the low-transporters. These findings, together with the results reported by other laboratories, strongly suggest that the aldosterone-induced increase in the conductance of the apical membrane to Na+ and, in turn, the rate of entry of Na+ into the absorptive cells are followed by parallel increases in the ability of cells to extrude Na+ across the basolateral membrane in the absence of a sustained increase in (Na)c as well as the conductance of that barrier.

Animals↗

Effect of hypertonicity on the increase in basolateral conductance of Necturus small intestine in response to Na+-sugar cotransport.

Exposure of Necturus small intestine to a galactose-containing perfusate that is 20% hypertonic compared to the galactose-free (control) perfusate results in a rapid depolarization of the electrical potential difference across the apical membrane, psi mc, and a decrease in the ratio of the resistance of the apical membrane to that of the basolateral membrane, (rm/rs); however, the slow repolarization of psi mc and increase in (rm/rs), observed under isotonic conditions, is blocked. These findings are consistent with the notion that the increase in the conductance of the basolateral membrane in response to Na+-coupled sugar (or amino acid) transport across the apical membrane may be a 'volume regulatory response' to cell swelling.

Animals↗

Current-voltage relations of sodium-coupled sugar transport across the apical membrane of Necturus small intestine.

The current-voltage (I-V) relations of the rheogenic Na-sugar cotransport mechanism at the apical membrane of Necturus small intestine were determined from the relations between the electrical potential difference across the apical membrane, psi mc, and that across the entire epithelium, psi ms, when the latter was varied over the range +/- 200 mV, under steady conditions in the presence of galactose and after the current across the apical membrane carried by the cotransporter, ImSNa, is blocked by the addition of phloridzin to the mucosal solution. ImSNa was found to be strongly dependent upon psi mc over the range -50 mV less than psi mc less than EmSNa where EmSNa is the "zero current" or "reversal" potential. Over the range of values of psi mc encountered under physiological conditions the cotransporter may be modeled as a conductance in series with an electromotive force so that ImSNa = gmSNa (EmSNa - psi mc) where gmSNa is the contribution of this mechanism to the conductance of the apical membrane and is "near constant." In several instances ImSNa "saturated" at large hyperpolarizing or depolarizing values of psi mc. The values of EmSNa determined in the presence of 1, 5, and 15 mM galactose strongly suggest that if the Na-galactose cotransporters are kinetically homogeneous, the stoichiometry of this coupled process is unity. Finally, the shapes of the observed I-V relations are consistent with the predictions of a simple kinetic model which conforms with current notions regarding the mechanico-kinetic properties of this cotransport process.

Animals↗

Transcellular sodium transport and intracellular sodium activities in rabbit gallbladder.

This study was designed to explore the relation between the rate of transcellular active Na+ transport by rabbit gallbladder epithelium, JNa, and the intracellular Na+ activity, (Na)c; the latter was determined by use of highly selective Na+ microelectrodes. The underlying strategy was based on the well-established observation that JNa is stimulated by the presence of bicarbonate in the bathing solutions. Our results confirm previous observations that the addition of bicarbonate to the bathing solutions results in a twofold increase in JNa. In the absence of bicarbonate, (Na)c averaged 16 mM. Within 2-4 min after the addition of bicarbonate to both bathing solutions, (Na)c increased to an average value of 22 mM and then gradually declined and by 15 min did not differ significantly from the value observed in the absence of bicarbonate. Thus, a twofold increase in JNa is not associated with an increase in (Na)c. These results are in accord with earlier observations on Necturus urinary bladder and small intestine and contradict the notion that an increase in the rate of active Na+ extrusion from the cell across the basolateral membrane in response to an increase in the rate of Na+ entry across the apical membrane is necessarily the result of a sustained increase in (Na)c.

Animals↗

The application of two-dimensional centrifugation to clinical chemistry testing.

We have developed a new clinical chemistry analyzer, the VISION System, which uses centrifugal force to separate whole blood, measure reagent and plasma volumes, and complete all steps required for a spectrophotometric analysis. The system is based on a multichambered test pack containing liquid reagents, which can be centrifuged in two planes oriented at right angles to each other. The analyzer regulates the temperature, timing and optical measurements for up to 10 different test packs in the same run. We have demonstrated good precision and accuracy on 6 clinical chemistry analytes, 2 enzymes, potassium and theophylline using this system.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗

Kinetics of the effect of amiloride on the permeability of the apical membrane of rabbit descending colon to sodium.

The effects of the addition of graded concentrations of amiloride, (A)m, to the mucosal bathing solution on the permeability of the apical membrane of rabbit descending colon to Na (PmNa) were determined when the Na activity in the mucosal bathing solution, (Na)m, was 18, 32 or 100 mM. PmNa was obtained from current-voltage relations determined on tissues bathed with a high-K serosal solution before and after the addition of a maximally inhibitory concentration of amiloride to the mucosal solution as described by Turnheim et al. (Turnheim, K., Thompson, S.M., Schultz, S.G. 1983. J. Membrane Biol. 76:299-309). The results indicate that: (1) As demonstrated previously (Turnheim et al., 1983), PmNa decreases with increasing (Na)m. (2) PmNa also decreases hyperbolically with increasing (A)m. Kinetic analyses of the effect of amiloride on PmNa are consistent with the conclusions that: (i) the stoichiometry between the interaction of amiloride with apical membrane receptors that results in a decrease in PmNa is one-for-one; (ii) there is no evidence for cooperativity between amiloride and these binding sites; (iii) the value of (A)m needed to halve PmNa at a fixed (Na)m is 0.6-1.0 microM; and, (iv) this value is independent of (Na)m over the fivefold range studied. These findings are consistent with the notion that the sites with which amiloride interacts to bring about closure of the channels through which Na crosses the apical membrane are kinetically distinct from the sites with which (Na)m interacts to bring about closure (i.e., "self-inhibition"). In short, the effects of (Na)m and (A)m on PmNa in this tissue appear to be independent and additive.

Amiloride↗

Electrophysiological studies of sodium cotransport in epithelia: toward a cellular model.

During the past two decades, microelectrophysiological studies of small intestine and renal proximal tubule employing conventional as well as ion-selective microelectrodes have contributed significantly to our understanding of the nature of Na-coupled entry processes at the apical membrane as well as the overall workings of the simple model illustrated in FIGURE 1. These studies have unequivocally established the rheogenic and conductive nature of the Na-coupled sugar and amino-acid entry processes across the apical membrane of small intestine (and renal proximal tubule) and have, in addition, disclosed that the properties of the basolateral membrane respond to an increase in Na-coupled solute entry with an increase in the ability of the Na-K pump to extrude Na with little or no change in (Na)c32 and a parallel increase in the conductance of that barrier to K. Although these responses may be "triggered" by cell swelling, it is unclear how a cell "recognizes" minimal swelling and how this recognition, in turn, culminates in the observed changes in basolateral membrane pump-leak properties. Clearly, these findings have brought us to the interfaces between cell physiology and cell and molecular biology and have raised a number of intriguing questions that focus on the more global question: How do epithelial cells work?

Amino Acids↗

Two-dimensional centrifugation for desk-top clinical chemistry.

We have developed a new system for clinical chemistry analysis, the Vision System, in which centrifugal force is used to separate whole blood, measure reagent and plasma volumes, and complete all steps required for a spectrophotometric analysis. The system is based on use of a multichambered plastic test pack containing liquid reagents, which can be centrifuged at 500 X g in two planes, oriented at right angles to each other. Alternating centrifugal fields allows liquid reagents and plasma to flow into highly precise measuring and mixing chambers. A unique flash lamp and diode array spectrometer provide for optical measurements of 10 test packs at as many as eight wavelengths simultaneously. The temperature of each individual test pack is controlled by using a flash lamp coupled to a liquid crystal temperature sensor. Microprocessor control allows as many as 10 different chemistry reactions to be measured simultaneously on whole-blood, plasma, or serum samples. Comparison with results by an established batch-photometric analyzer demonstrated excellent precision and accuracy for various clinical chemistry tests.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗

Sodium-coupled sugar transport: effects on intracellular sodium activities and sodium-pump activity.

Intracellular sodium activities, (Na)c, were determined in Necturus small intestine before and after addition of galactose to the mucosal bathing solution. In the absence of galactose, (Na)c averaged 12 millimoles per liter. Within 2 minutes after the addition of galactose to the mucosal solution, (Na)c increased to a mean value of 20 millimoles per liter and then declined, in parallel with an increase in transcellular sodium transport, to a value that did not differ significantly from that observed in the absence of the sugar. The final steady state in the presence of galactose was characterized by a three- to fourfold increase in the rate of transcellular Na+ transport in the absence of a significant increase in (Na)c. Thus, the increase in steady-state basolateral pump activity cannot be attributed to an increase in the intracellular sodium transport pool.

Animals↗

Seasonal variations in the fine structure of the Necturus maculosus urinary bladder epithelium: low transporters and high transporters.

Although the urinary bladder of Necturus maculosus provides an important model system for studying the mechanisms of active Na absorption, little critical attention has been paid to the fine structure of its epithelium. Moreover, two distinct groups of urinary bladders, low and high Na transporters, have been described based on short-circuit current or transepithelial potential difference. In the present study, over an 11-month period, stable electrical parameters (short-circuit current, transepithelial potential difference, and resistance) were recorded from 63 chamber-mounted bladders. Analysis of these parameters revealed a highly significant difference between two groups (low transporters and high transporters) occurring at different times of the year. Consistent with these data, in urine collected from the bladders, the Na concentration in low transporters was significantly higher than that in high transporters. A subpopulation of these bladders was subsequently fixed and examined at the light and/or electron microscopic level. Low-transporting bladders were characterized unequivocally by a thin, stratified squamous epithelium only 6-15 micron thick. High-transporting bladders were composed predominantly of columnar-shaped granular cells up to 70 micron in height, with ciliated, mitochondria-rich, and basal cells present in small numbers. There is thus a correlation between transport activity, as measured by electrophysiological techniques and urine sodium analysis, and the structure of the tissue. Moreover, these parameters exhibit significant seasonal variation, the underlying mechanisms of which remain obscure.

Animals↗

Electrophysiology of Necturus urinary bladder: II. Time-dependent current-voltage relations of the basolateral membranes.

As reported previously (S.R. Thomas et al., J. Membrane Biol. 73:157-175, 1983) the current-voltage (I-V) relations of the Na-entry step across the apical membrane of short-circuited Necturus urinary bladder in the presence of varying mucosal Na concentrations are (i) time-independent between 20-90 msec and (ii) conform to the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz constant field flux equation for a single cation over a wide range of voltages. In contrast, the I-V relations of the basolateral membrane under these conditions are (i) essentially linear between the steady-state, short-circuited condition and the reversal potential (Es); and (ii) are decidedly time-dependent with Es increasing and the slope conductance, gs, decreasing between 20 and 90 msec after displacing the transepithelial electrical potential difference. Evidence is presented that this time-dependence cannot be attributed entirely to the electrical capacitance of the tissue. The values of gs determined at 20 msec are linear functions of the short-circuit current, Isc, confirming the relations reported previously, which were obtained using a more indirect approach. The values of Es determined at 20 msec are significantly lower than any reasonable estimate of the electromotive force for K across the basolateral membrane, indicating that this barrier possesses a significant conductance to other ions which may exceed that to K. In addition, these values increase linearly with decreasing Isc and approach the value of the electrical potential difference across the basolateral membrane observed when Na entry across the apical membrane is blocked with amiloride or when Na is removed from the mucosal solution. A possible explanation for the time-dependence of Es and gs is offered and the implications of these findings regarding the interpretation of previous microelectrophysiologic studies of epithelia are discussed.

Animals↗

Cell swelling increases a barium-inhibitable potassium conductance in the basolateral membrane of Necturus small intestine.

Previous studies have shown that, immediately after the addition of galactose or alanine to the solution bathing the mucosal surface of Necturus small intestine, there is a rapid depolarization of the electrical potential difference across the mucosal membrane (psi mc). This is followed by a repolarization of psi mc that is paralleled by an increase in the ratio of the effective resistance of the mucosal membrane to that of the basolateral membrane (rm/rs); the latter was shown to be, at least in part, due to a marked increase in the conductance of the basolateral membrane. We now report the following. (i) Exposure of this epithelium to a 12% hypotonic solution results in a hyperpolarization of psi mc and an increase in rm/rs. These effects are blocked by metabolic inhibitors and by the presence of 5 mM Ba2+ in the bathing solution; indeed, in the presence of Ba2+, psi mc depolarizes and rm/rs decreases to low values. (ii) Addition of 15 mM galactose to the mucosal solution when the serosal solution alone contains 5 mM Ba2+ results in a depolarization of psi mc but no subsequent repolarization of psi mc or increase in rm/rs; however, psi mc repolarizes and rm/rs increases when Ba2+ is subsequently removed from the serosal bathing solution. We conclude that (i) the basolateral membrane normally possesses a Ba2+-inhibitable K conductance, which appears to be reduced in the presence of metabolic inhibitors; (ii) after exposure of the tissue to a hypotonic solution or the addition of galactose to the mucosal solution, this conductance increases; and (iii) these responses can be blocked by metabolic inhibitors. These findings suggest that the delayed response of this tissue to the addition of sugars or amino acids to the mucosal solution may be the result of cell swelling resulting from the intracellular accumulation of these solutes in osmotically active forms.

Amino Acids↗