Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W F Boron

Publications and source records attributed to W F Boron.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Long-term effects of growth factors on pH and acid-base transport in rat glomerular mesangial cells.

We investigated the long-term effects of exposing mesangial cells (MCs), previously quiescent, to platelet-derived growth factor, arginine vasopressin (AVP), epidermal growth factor, and serotonin (5-HT). MCs were exposed to the mitogens continuously for periods of 30-70 h. For each agent, we periodically measured intracellular pH (pH(i)), activities of Na+/H+, Na(+)-dependent Cl-/HCO3-, and Cl-/HCO3- exchangers, and cell number. pH(i) and transporter activity were assessed using the fluorescent pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyflourescein in a population of cells attached to glass cover slips. The first two transporters were assayed at the single pH(i) of 6.6, whereas Cl-/HCO3- exchange was assayed at pH(i) 7.5. Cell number was determined using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Incubations and assays were conducted in presence of CO2/HCO30. No agent substantially altered pH(i), which generally ranged from 7.25 to 7.35. pH(i) in AVP-treated cells tended to be approximately 0.05 lower than in time-matched controls at the longer incubation times. All agents, when assayed minutes after mitogen application, caused large increases (70-130%) in activities of all three transporters. However, transporter activity gradually declined in continuous presence of each agent, first rapidly (e.g., 2-4 h) and then more slowly. Measurements of immunoreactive extracellular AVP ([AVP]o) levels indicate that the decrease in Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity is not due to a decrease in [AVP]o. Minimum transporter activity (10-40% above baseline) was achieved approximately 18-35 h after mitogen application. Later, transporter activity slowly increased, although not to the high levels achieved minutes after mitogen addition. For each mitogen, activities of all three transporters tended to rise and fall together. FACS data showed that each agent produced a gradual but significant increase in the number of cells in each cell-cycle phase (G0/G1, S, and M). There also was an increase in the total number of cells, confirming previous [3H]thymidine incorporation data. The fraction of cells in G0/G1, S, or M phase did not correlate well with the gradual decrease in transporter activity. However, the total number of cells peaked at the time of minimal transporter activity. These data demonstrate that, when studied at the cell-population level, mitogens produce a burst in acid-base transporter activity that gradually wanes as cell number increases. Conversely, transporter activity later increases after the peak in cell number.

Animals↗

Unique permeability barrier of the apical surface of parietal and chief cells in isolated perfused gastric glands.

Although many factors can influence intracellular pH (pHi), some of the most important are those that involve the movement of acids and bases across the cell membrane. We will discuss recent results concerning barriers to the movement of H+, NH3 and CO2 across the apical cell membranes of gastric gland cells. Cell membranes are generally highly permeable to small, lipophilic molecules such as NH3 and CO2. In fact, only two examples are known of membranes relatively impermeable to NH3 and none membranes permeable to CO2. We recently developed a technique for perfusing the lumen of a single hand-dissected gastric gland on the stage of a microscope, while monitoring pHi with a fluorescent dye. We observed the expected pHi changes when we exposed the basolateral (i.e. blood-side) membrane to a pH 6.4 solution (a large, rapid pHi decrease), to a pH 7.4 solution containing approximately 0.3 mmoll-1 NH3 (a large and rapid pHi increase) or to a pH7.4 solution equilibrated with 1% CO2 (a rapid pHi decrease of -0.08). However, pHi was not significantly affected by perfusing the lumen with a pH 1.4 solution, with a pH 7.4 solution containing as much as 2.7 mmoll-1 NH3 or with a pH 6.1 solution equilibrated with 100% CO2. These data indicate that a barrier at or near the apical membrane has a uniquely low permeability to H+, NH3 and CO2.

Ammonia↗

Intracellular pH regulation in single cultured astrocytes from rat forebrain.

We used the fluorescent pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to monitor intracellular pH (pHi) in single astrocytes cultured from the forebrain of neonatal rats. When exposed to a nominally CO2/HCO3(-)-free medium buffered to pH 7.40 with HEPES at 37 degrees C, the cells had a mean pHi of 6.89. Switching to a medium buffered to pH 7.40 with 5% CO2 and 25 mM HCO3(-) caused the steady-state pHi to increase by an average of 0.35, suggesting the presence of a HCO3(-) -dependent acid-extrusion mechanism. The sustained alkalinization was sometimes preceded by a small transient acidification. In experiments in which astrocytes were exposed to nominally HCO3(-)-free (HEPES-buffered) solutions, the application and withdrawal of 20 mM extracellular NH4+ caused pHi to fall to a value substantially below the initial one. pHi spontaneously recovered from this acid load, stabilizing at a value approximately 0.1 higher than the one prevailing before the application of NH4+. In other experiments conducted on cell bathed in HEPES-buffered solutions, removing extracellular Na+ caused pHi to decrease rapidly by 0.5. Returning the Na+ caused pHi to increase rapidly, indicating the presence of an Na(+)-dependent/HCO3(-)-dependent acid-extrusion mechanism; the final pHi after returning Na+ was approximately 0.08 higher than the initial value. This pHi recovery elicited by returning Na+ was not substantially affected by 50 microM ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA), but was speeded up by 50 microM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Effect of basolateral CO2/HCO3- on intracellular pH regulation in the rabbit S3 proximal tubule.

We used the absorbance spectrum of the pH-sensitive dye dimethylcarboxyfluorescein to monitor intracellular pH (pHi) in the isolated perfused S3 segment of the rabbit proximal tubule, and examined the effect on pHi of switching from a HEPES to a CO2/HCO3- buffer in the lumen and/or the bath (i.e., basolateral solution). Solutions were titrated to pH 7.40 at 37 degrees C. With 10 mM acetate present bilaterally (lumen and bath), this causing steady-state pHi to be rather high (approximately 7.45), bilaterally switching the buffer from 32 mM HEPES to 5% CO2/25 mM HCO3- caused a sustained fall in pHi of approximately 0.26. However, with acetate absent bilaterally, this causing steady-state pHi to be substantially lower (approximately 6.9), bilaterally switching to CO2/HCO3- caused a transient pHi fall (due to the influx of CO2), followed by a sustained rise to a level approximately 0.18 higher than the initial one. The remainder of the experiments was devoted to examining this alkalinization in the absence of acetate. Switching to CO2/HCO3- only in the lumen caused a sustained pHi fall of approximately 0.15, whereas switching to CO2/HCO3- only in the bath caused a transient fall followed by a sustained pHi increase to approximately 0.26 above the initial value. This basolateral CO2/HCO3(-)-induced alkalinization was not inhibited by 50 microM DIDS applied shortly after CO2/HCO3- washout, but was slowed approximately 73% by DIDS applied more than 30 min after CO2/HCO3- washout. The rate was unaffected by 100 microM bilateral acetazolamide, although this drug greatly reduced CO2-induced pHi transients. The alkalinization was not blocked by bilateral removal of Na+ per se, but was abolished at pHi values below approximately 6.5. The alkalinization was also unaffected by short-term bilateral removal of Cl- or SO4=. Basolateral CO2/HCO3- elicited the usual pHi increase even when all solutes were replaced, short or long-term (> 45 min), by N-methyl-D-glucammonium/glucuronate (NMDG+/Glr-). Luminal CO2/HCO3- did not elicit a pHi increase in NMDG+/Glr-. Although the sustained pHi increase elicited by basolateral CO2/HCO3- could be due to a basolateral HCO3- uptake mechanism, net reabsorption of HCO3- by the S3 segment, as well as our ACZ data, suggest instead that basolateral CO2/HCO3- elicits the sustained pHi increase either by inhibiting an acid-loading process or stimulating acid extrusion across the luminal membrane (e.g., via an H+ pump).

Acetates↗

Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchange in the squid axon. Dependence on extracellular pH.

Intracellular pH (pHi) in squid giant axons recovers from acid loads by means of a Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchanger, the actual mechanism of which might be exchange of: (i) external Na+ and HCO3- for internal Cl- and H+, (ii) Na+ plus two HCO3- for Cl-, (iii) Na+ and CO3= for Cl-, or (iv) the NaCO3- ion pair for Cl-. Here we examine sensitivity of transport to changes of extracellular pH (pHo) in the range 7.1-8.6. We altered pHo in four ways, using: (i) classical "metabolic" disturbances in which we varied [HCO3-]o, [NaCO3-]o, and [CO3=]o at a fixed [CO2]o; (ii) classical "respiratory" disturbances in which we varied [CO2]o, [NaCO3-]o, and [CO3=]o at a fixed [HCO3-]o; (iii) novel mixed-type acid-base disturbances in which we varied [HCO3-]o and [CO2]o at a fixed [CO3=]o and [NaCO3-]o; and (iv) a second series of novel mixed-type disturbances in which we varied [CO2]o, [CO3=]o, and [Na+]o at a fixed [HCO3-]o and [NaCO3-]o. Axons (initial pHi approximately 7.4) were internally dialyzed with a pH 6.5 solution containing 400 mM Cl- but no Na+. After pHi, measured with a glass microelectrode, had fallen to approximately 6.6, dialysis was halted. The equivalent acid extrusion rate (JH) was computed from the rate of pHi recovery (i.e., increase) in the presence of Na+ and HCO3-. When pHo was varied by method (i), which produced the greatest range of [CO3=]o and [NaCO3-]o values, JH increased with pHo in a sigmoidal fashion; the relation was fitted by a pH titration curve with a pK of approximately 7.7 and a Hill coefficient of approximately 3.0. With method (ii), which produced smaller changes in [CO3=]o and [NaCO3-]o, JH also increased with pHo, though less steeply. With method (iii), which involved changes in neither [CO3=]o nor [NaCO3-]o, JH was insensitive to pHo changes. Finally, with method (iv), which involved changes in neither [HCO3-] nor [NaCO3-]o, but reciprocal changes in [CO3=]o and [Na+]o, JH also was insensitive to pHo changes. We found that decreasing pHo from 8.6 to 7.1 caused the apparent Km for external HCO3- ([Na+]o = 425 mM) to increase from 1.0 to 26.7 mM, whereas Jmax was relatively stable. Decreasing pHo from 8.6 to 7.4 caused the apparent Km values for external Na+ ([HCO3-]o = 48 mM) to increase from 8.6 to 81 mM, whereas Jmax was relatively stable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Role of G proteins in stimulation of Na-H exchange by cell shrinkage.

Many cells respond to shrinkage by stimulating specific ion transport processes (e.g., Na-H exchange). However, it is not known how the cell senses this volume change, nor how this signal is transduced to an ion transporter. We have studied the activation of Na-H exchange in internally dialyzed barnacle muscle fibers, measuring intracellular pH (pHi) with glass microelectrodes. When cells are dialyzed to a pHi of approximately 7.2, Na-H exchange is active only in shrunken cells. We found that the shrinkage-induced stimulation of Na-H exchange, elicited by increasing medium osmolality from 975 to 1,600 mosmol/kgH2O, is inhibited approximately 72% by including in the dialysis fluid 1 mM guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate). The latter is an antagonist of G protein activation. Even in unshrunken cells, Na-H exchange is activated by dialyzing the cell with 1 mM guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate), which causes the prolonged activation of G proteins. Activation of Na-H exchange is also elicited in unshrunken cells by injecting cholera toxin, which activates certain G proteins. Neither exposing cells to 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate nor dialyzing them with a solution containing 20 microM adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) (or 50 microM dibutyryl cAMP) plus 0.5 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine substantially stimulates the exchanger. Thus our data suggest that a G protein plays a key role in the transduction of the shrinkage signal to the Na-H exchanger via a pathway that involves neither protein kinase C nor cAMP.

Animals↗

Activation of Na-H exchange by intracellular lithium in barnacle muscle fibers.

We internally dialyzed single barnacle muscle fibers (BMF) for 90 min with a dialysis fluid (DF) containing no Na+ and either 0 or 100 mM Li+ and measured intracellular pH (pHi) with a microelectrode. During dialysis, the pH 8.0 artificial seawater (ASW) contained neither Na+ nor HCO3-. After we halted dialysis with a Li(+)-free/low-pH DF and allowed pHi to stabilize at approximately 6.8, adding 440 mM Na(+)-10 mM HCO3- to the ASW caused pHi to recover rapidly and stabilize at 7.32. In contrast, when the DF contained 100 mM Li+, pHi stabilized at 7.49. In fibers dialyzed to a pHi of approximately 7.2, Li+ stimulated a component of acid extrusion that was dependent on Na+ but not affected by SITS. Thus Li+ activates a Na(+)-dependent acid-extrusion mechanism other than the well characterized Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchanger. To study the Li(+)-activated mechanism, we minimized Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchange by raising pHDF to 7.35 and pretreated BMFs with SITS. We found that dialysis with Li+ elicits a Na(+)-dependent pHi increase that is largely blocked by amiloride, consistent with the hypothesis that Li+ activates a latent Na-H exchanger even at a normal pHi. In the absence of Li+, the Na-H exchanger is relatively inactive at pHi 7.35 (net acid-extrusion rate, Jnet = 9.5 microM/min) but modestly stimulated by reducing pHi to 6.8 (Jnet = 64 microM/min). In the presence of Li+, the Na-H exchanger is very active at pHi values of both 7.35 (Jnet = 141 microM/min) and 6.8 (Jnet = 168 microM/min). Thus Li+ alters the pHi sensitivity of the Na-H exchanger. Because the Na-H exchanger is only approximately 6% as active as the Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchanger in the absence of Li+ at a pHi of approximately 6.8, we suggest that the major role of the Na-H exchanger may not be in pHi regulation but in another function such as cell-volume regulation.

Acids↗

Effect of diabetes on Na(+)-H+ exchange by single isolated hepatocytes.

We used the fluorescent dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to examine intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in single hepatocytes isolated from control rats and rats with either spontaneous or drug-induced diabetes mellitus (DM). In the absence of CO2-HCO3-, both control and DM cells recovered from cellular acid loads applied by the NH4+ prepulse technique. Because the pHi recovery was blocked by either Na+ withdrawal or ethylisopropylamiloride in both control and DM cells, it was presumably mediated by Na(+)-H+ exchange. In the control cells, the pHi threshold above which the rate of change of pHi (dpHi/dt) was zero was 7.06, and the slope of the dpHi/dt-pHi relationship was -0.030 s-1. In the DM cells, the pHi threshold was 7.22 and the slope was -0.017 s-1. Thus, at pHi values below approximately 6.9, the pHi recovery was slower in the DM cells. Inasmuch as we observed no difference in the cellular buffering power between control and DM cells, diabetes inhibits Na(+)-H+ exchange within this low pHi range. At pHi values above approximately 6.9, however, Na(+)-H+ exchange was apparently stimulated by diabetes. Thus diabetes induces two distinct alterations of Na(+)-H+ exchange, an alkaline shift in pHi threshold and decrease in slope. Treatment of diabetic rats with insulin for 48 h restored both Na(+)-H+ exchange parameters to normal. On the other hand, insulin added in vitro to DM cells for 2-5 h shifted the threshold toward the control value without affecting the slope, thus leading to a further inhibition of Na(+)-H+ exchange over the entire pHi range.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Intracellular-pH dependence of Na-H exchange and acid loading in quiescent and arginine vasopressin-activated mesangial cells.

We studied intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in the absence of HCO3- in single mesangial cells (MCs) with the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(and -6)carboxyfluorescein. Our approach was to acid load the cells by an NH+4 prepulse and to monitor the subsequent pHi recovery. Previous work on MCs and other cells has shown that the recovery is prevented by adding ethylisopropyl amiloride (EIPA) or removing Na+ before the recovery begins, suggesting that at low pHi only Na-H exchange contributes to the recovery. This conclusion is often extrapolated to the entire pHi range. To test this, we interrupted the recovery with EIPA at various pHi values, finding that EIPA unmasked a background acidification that was negligible at pHi less than approximately 6.7 but increased steeply at higher pHi values. Correcting the total recovery rate for this EIPA-insensitive component, we found that the EIPA-sensitive (Na-H exchange) rate fell steeply with increasing pHi between 6.3 and 6.7 but was relatively pHi insensitive between 6.7 and 7.2. Thus, the recovery halts as pHi approaches approximately 7.2 not so much because Na-H exchange slows, but because acid loading accelerates. Applying the mitogen arginine vasopressin (AVP; 100 nM) caused a rapid pHi decrease of approximately 0.4, followed by a slower increase to a level approximately 0.15 higher than the initial pHi. Coincident with this biphasic change in pHi was a biphasic change in Na-H exchange kinetics. In the early phase (i.e., pHi recovery commencing approximately 8 min after AVP addition), AVP linearized the pHi dependence of the exchanger; its rate was unaffected by AVP at pHi less than approximately 6.7 but was progressively inhibited at higher pHi values. In the later phase (i.e., pHi recovery commencing approximately 14 min after AVP addition), AVP shifted this linear pHi dependence in the alkaline direction; the exchanger was stimulated at pHi less than 6.9 but was modestly inhibited at higher pHi values (i.e., in the physiological range). At all times, AVP greatly inhibited background acid loading. Thus, AVP raises steady-state pHi not because Na-H exchange is stimulated but because, although the exchanger is inhibited, acid loading is inhibited even more.

Amiloride↗

Angiotensin II stimulates both Na(+)-H+ exchange and Na+/HCO3- cotransport in the rabbit proximal tubule.

Angiotensin II (AII) is a potent stimulus for HCO3- reabsorption in the rat proximal tubule in vivo. To determine the ionic mechanism of increased HCO3- reabsorption, we have examined the effect of AII on luminal Na(+)-H+ exchange and basolateral Na+/HCO3- cotransport in perfused S1 proximal tubules isolated from superficial nephrons of the rabbit kidney. Transporter activity was assessed by removing Na+ from both luminal and basolateral (i.e., bath) solutions and determining the rate at which intracellular pH (pHi) increased after Na+ was returned to only the lumen or only the bath. pHi was measured with the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye 2', 7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein. We found that basolateral administration of 1 nM AII not only increased the rate of luminal Na(+)-H+ exchange approximately 3.5-fold but also increased the rate of basolateral Na+/HCO3- cotransport approximately 2.5-fold. 5-(N-Ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (50 microM) blocked luminal Na(+)-H+ exchange before and after stimulation by AII but had no effect on basolateral Na+/HCO3- cotransport. Conversely, 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonate (50 microM) blocked basolateral Na+/HCO3- cotransport before and after AII but had no effect on luminal Na(+)-H+ exchange. Our data thus indicate that, at least under the conditions of our assay, AII independently stimulates the transporters responsible for both the luminal and basolateral steps of transepithelial HCO3- reabsorption.

Angiotensin II↗

Intracellular pH regulation in rabbit S3 proximal tubule: basolateral Cl-HCO3 exchange and Na-HCO3 cotransport.

We studied the role of basolateral HCO3- transport in the regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) in the isolated perfused S3 segment of the rabbit proximal tubule. pHi was calculated from absorbance spectra of the pH-sensitive dye dimethylcarboxyfluorescein. Solutions were normally buffered to pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C with 25 mM HCO3- 5% CO2. pHi fell by approximately 0.17 when luminal [HCO3-] was lowered to 5 mM at fixed PCO2 (i.e., reducing pH to 6.8) but by approximately 0.42 when [HCO3-] in the bath (i.e., basolateral solution) was lowered to 5 mM. The pHi decrease elicited by reducing bath [HCO3-] was substantially reduced by removal of Cl- or Na+, suggesting that components of basolateral HCO3- transport are Cl- and/or Na+ dependent. We tested for the presence of basolateral Cl-HCO3 exchange by removing bath Cl-. This caused pHi to increase by approximately 0.23, with an initial rate of approximately 100 X 10(-4) pH/s. Although the initial rate of this pHi increase was not reduced by removing Na+ bilaterally, it was substantially lowered by the nominal removal of HCO3- from bath and lumen or by the addition of 0.1 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DIDS) to the bath. The results thus suggest that a Na-independent Cl-HCO3 exchanger is present at the basolateral membrane. We tested for the presence of basolateral Na-HCO3 cotransport by removing bath Na+. This caused pHi to fall reversibly by approximately 0.26 with initial rates of pHi decline and recovery being approximately 30 and approximately 41 X 10(-4) pH/s, respectively. Although the bilateral removal of Cl- had no effect on these rates, the nominal removal of HCO3- or the presence of DIDS substantially slowed the pHi changes. Thus, in addition to a Cl-HCO3 exchanger, the basolateral membrane of the S3 proximal tubule also appears to possess a Na-HCO3 cotransport mechanism. The data do not rule out the possibility of other basolateral HCO3- transporters.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Effects of mitogens and other agents on rat mesangial cell proliferation, pH, and Ca2+.

We investigated effects of various agents on proliferation, intracellular pH (pHi), and intracellular calcium [( Ca2+]i) of rat mesangial cells (MCs) in early passages (2-5). Serum-starved MCs incubated in HCO3- were exposed to one of the following: fetal calf serum (FCS), serotonin, angiotensin II (ANG II), arginine vasopressin (AVP), bombesin (Bom), bradykinin (BK), epidermal growth factor (EGF), epinephrine (Epi), interleukin 1 (IL-1), norepinephrine (NE), neuropeptide Y, oxytocin, substance P (SP), platelet-derived growth factor, or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We assessed DNA synthesis from [3H]thymidine uptake during exposure to test agent. All agents except ANG II, NE, Bom, and SP were mitogenic. When MCs were incubated in a HCO3(-) -free N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid-buffered medium, maximal mitogenic responses to FCS, AVP, and EGF were 41, 44, and 55% (P less than 0.01) lower, respectively, than those in presence of HCO3-. In absence of HCO3-, agents other than BK and IL-1 produced a biphasic pHi response characterized by a transient acidification followed by a prolonged alkalinization that was both Na(+)-dependent and amiloride-sensitive. In presence of HCO3-, agents produced only a small and gradual acidification, except for IL-1 and Epi. Addition of all agonists except IL-1, EGF, and TPA produced significant transient increases in [Ca2+]i, the magnitudes of which were similar in HCO3- and non-HCO3- buffers. These results demonstrate that, in presence of HCO3-, agents (i.e., NE and ANG II) can produce typical [Ca2+]i transients and still not cause MC proliferation. Conversely, an agent may cause proliferation without eliciting a short-term change in either [Ca2+]i or pHi (i.e., IL-1), a change in [Ca2+]i but not pHi (i.e., Epi), or a change in pHi but not [Ca2+]i (i.e., TPA). Thus, at least for MCs, proliferation in HCO3- can be dissociated from early agonist-induced changes in pHi and [Ca2+]i.

Animals↗

Arginine vasopressin enhances pHi regulation in the presence of HCO3- by stimulating three acid-base transport systems.

Growth factors raise intracellular pH (pHi) by stimulating Na+/H+ exchange in the absence of HCO3-. In mutant cells that lack the Na+/H+ exchange activity, this alkalinization does not occur, and the cells do not proliferate without artificial elevation of pHi. It has therefore been widely suggested that an early pHi increase is a necessary signal for mitogenesis. In the presence of HCO3- however, growth factors fail to raise pHi in A431 cells, renal mesangial cells and 3T3 fibroblasts. In mesangial cells, arginine vasopressin (AVP) raises pHi in the absence of HCO3-, but lowers it when HCO3- is present; growth is stimulated under both conditions. We report here that, in the presence of HCO3-, AVP stimulates two potent HCO3- transporters, as well as the Na+/H+ exchanger. These are the Na+-dependent and Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchangers. Our results indicate that AVP causes acidification in the presence of HCO3- because, at the resting pHi, it stimulates Na+-independent Cl-/HCO3- exchange (which lowers pHi) more than it stimulates the sum of Na+/H+ exchange and Na+-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchange (both of which raise pHi). The stimulation of three acid-base transporters by the growth factor AVP greatly enhances the ability of the cell to regulate pHi.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Intracellular pH-regulating mechanism of the squid axon. Interaction between DNDS and extracellular Na+ and HCO3-.

Intracellular pH (pHi) of the squid axon is regulated by a stilbenesensitive transporter that couples the influx of Na+ and HCO3- (or the equivalent) to the efflux of Cl-. According to one model, the extracellular ion pair NaCO3- exchanges for intracellular Cl-. In the present study, the ion-pair model was tested by examining the interaction of the reversible stilbene derivative 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS) with extracellular Na+ and HCO3-. Axons (initial pHi approximately 7.4) were internally dialyzed with a pH 6.5 solution containing 400 mM Cl- but no Na+. After pHi, as measured with a glass microelectrode, had fallen to approximately 6.6, dialysis was halted. In the presence of both external Na+ and HCO3- (pHo = 8.0, 22 degrees C), pHi increased due to the pHi-regulating mechanism. At a fixed [Na+]o of 425 mM and [HCO3-]o of 12 mM, DNDS reversibly reduced the equivalent acid-extrusion rate (JH) calculated from the rate of pHi recovery. The best-fit value for maximal inhibition was 104%, and for the [DNDS]o at half-maximal inhibition, 0.3 mM. At a [Na+]o of 425 mM, the [HCO3-]o dependence of JH was examined at 0, 0.1, and 0.25 mM DNDS. Although Jmax was always approximately 20 pmol cm-2 s-1, Km(HCO3-) was 2.6, 5.7, and 12.7 mM, respectively. Thus, DNDS is competitive with HCO3-. At a [HCO3-]o of 12 mM, the [Na+]o dependence of JH was examined at 0 and 0.1 mM DNDS. Although Jmax was approximately 20 pmol cm-2 s-1 in both cases, Km(Na+) was 71 and 179 mM, respectively. At a [HCO3-]o of 48 mM, Jmax was approximately 20 pmol cm-2 s-1 at [DNDS]o levels of 0, 0.1, and 0.25 mM. However, Km(Na+) was 22, 45, and 90 mM, respectively. Thus, DNDS (an anion) is also competitive with Na+. The results are consistent with simple competition between DNDS and NaCO3-, and place severe restrictions on other kinetic models.

Animals↗

Depolarization-induced alkalinization in proximal tubules. I. Characteristics and dependence on Na+.

We used intracellular pH-sensitive and voltage microelectrodes to examine the effects of depolarization on intracellular pH (pHi) in isolated perfused proximal tubules from the tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum. Tubules were depolarized by raising [K+] in the bath (b) or lumen (l), or by adding Ba2+ (1 mM) to the bath or lumen, always in nominally HCO3-free solutions. Increasing [K+]b from 2.5 to 50 mM caused the basolateral membrane to depolarize by an average of 45 mV, and pHi to increase by 0.23 over 3 min. Similar alkalinization was observed when basolateral Ba2+ (1 mM) was used to depolarize the cell at constant extracellular [K+], suggesting that the alkalinization observed during exposure to elevated [K+]b results from depolarization rather than an increase in [K+]b. The initial rate of depolarization-induced alkalinization (DIA) was proportional to the magnitude of the depolarization, regardless of whether tubules were depolarized by elevated [K+]b, elevated [K+]l, or by basolateral Ba2+. An exception was the initial rate of the alkalinization caused by 1 mM luminal Ba2+, which was more than 10-fold greater than that predicted from the depolarization. The voltage and pHi responses to basolateral Ba2+ were smaller in some tubules than others, as were the responses to elevated [K+]l. Tubules with small responses to 1 mM [Ba2+]b had large responses to 50 mM [K+]l, whereas tubules with large responses to 1 mM [Ba2+]b had small responses to 50 mM [K+]l. This variability can be accounted for by differences in the luminal K+ conductance. The DIA was partially inhibited by removal of Na+ from only the lumen or only the bath, but completely inhibited by bilateral Na+ removal. We conclude that the depolarization-induced alkalinization results from additive effects of Na+-dependent processes at both the luminal and basolateral membranes.

Ambystoma↗