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Regulation of intracellular chloride activity during perfusion with hypertonic solutions in the Necturus proximal tubule.

In a previous study we presented evidence that chloride transport across the basolateral membrane in Necturus proximal tubule cells occurs predominantly via exchange for both Na+ and HCO3-. In this study the regulation of intracellular chloride was further examined in the doubly-perfused kidney preparation using conventional and chloride-sensitive microelectrodes. Application of hypertonic basolateral solutions containing 80 mM raffinose stimulated an efflux of chloride such that chloride activity remained unchanged at control levels. Membrane potential did not change in these experiments. Inhibition of Cl- exit across the basolateral cell membrane by removal of either HCO3- or Na+ from the perfusion solution resulted in a significant increase in intracellular chloride activity, aiCl, when basolateral osmolarity was raised. Hypertonic basolateral solutions also produced a significant rise in aiCl in the presence of SITS. This study provides further evidence that chloride is transported across the basolateral cell membrane in exchange for both Na+ and HCO3-. Since this exchange mechanism is activated in response to hypertonic solutions, these studies suggest a functional role for this exchanger in the regulation of aiCl in the Necturus proximal tubule cell during volume changes.

4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfo

Cyclic AMP and intracellular ionic activities in Necturus gallbladder.

Open-tip and liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes were used to study the effects of cAMP (6mM, added to the serosal medium) on apical membrane potential (Em) and intracellular sodium, potassium, and chloride activities (alphaiNa, alphaiK, alphaiCl) in Necturus gallbladder under open-circuit conditions. Transepithelial potential difference (ETr) was also measured. In the presence of cAMP, alphaiCl fell from about 1.5 times its equilibrium value to a level that corresponded to electrochemical equilibrium across the apical and basolateral cell membranes. Under these conditions alphaiNa decreased and alphaiK increased, Em was unchanged and ETr increased from virtually zero to a small but significant serosal positive value. The cAMP-induced increase in alphaiK was abolished when Cl- -free incubation media were used. Addition of the Ca++-ionophore A23187 (0.5 microgram/ml) to the serosal medium had no effect on Em, ETr, or alphaiCl. When A23187 was added to the mucosal medium, Em and the basolateral membrane potential hyperpolarized by about 20 mV and an increase in the outwardly directed electrochemical driving force for Cl- was observed. These results indicate that cAMP inhibits coupled transapical Na-Cl entry into epithelial cells of Necturus gallbladder and suggest that this inhibition may not be mediated by an increase in intracellular Ca++ concentration.

Animals

Peculiarities of the Na+/D-glucose cotransport system in Necturus renal tubules.

The effects of D-glucose addition to a glucose-free luminal perfusate were investigated in the proximal tubule of Necturus kidney, by electrophysiological techniques. The main findings are: (1) In the presence of sodium, D-glucose produces 10.5 mV +/- 1.1 (S.E.) depolarization. (2) Phlorizin reduces the magnitude of this response to 2.1 +/- 0.1 mV. (3) The glucose-evoked depolarization, delta VG, does not alter the intracellular K+ activity nor is it affected by peritubular addition of ouabain. (4) Isosmotic reduction of Na+ concentration in luminal perfusate from 95 to 2 mmol/l (choline or Li+ substituting for Na+) does not change the magnitude of delta VG; complete removal of sodium from the lumen lowers the value of delta VG (3.2 +/- 0.2 mV) but the response is not abolished. This observation suggests that the D-glucose carrier of renal tubules in Necturus is poorly specific with regard to the cotransported cation species.

Animals

pH dependence of protamine action on apical membrane permeability in Necturus gallbladder epithelium.

Protamine reversibly decreases cation permeability and alters the structure of Necturus gallbladder tight junctions. Conflicting results, however, have been published whether or not it also affects apical cell membrane permeability. We investigated this issue more systematically by measuring voltage (psi mc) and fractional resistance (fRa) of the apical membrane at varying concentrations of protamine, K+, and H+ in the bathing solution. At pH 7.6 and [K+] 2.5 mM, (Poler, M.S. and Reuss, L. (1987) Am. J. Physiol. 253, C662) 6 microM protamine caused psi mc to depolarize from -58 to -51 mV and fRa to decrease from 0.74 to 0.67. If we increased pH to 8.1 these effects were even more pronounced. At [K+] 2.5 mM, but not 4.5 mM, psi mc transiently hyperpolarized for about 5 min after adding protamine. Most importantly, if [K+] was 4.5 mM and pH was adjusted to 7.1 (Bentzel et al. (1987) J. Membr. Biol. 95, 9) no significant changes of psi mc and fRa occurred. In any case, at a supramaximal concentration of 200 microM, protamine did not further increase the paracellular response but produced decreasing psi mc and fRa. We conclude that 6 microM protamine decreases K+ conductance of the apical membrane, if it is already tuned high by high pH. At low control K+ conductance as observed at lower pH, protamine action is restricted to the paracellular pathway. Thus, conflicting results were due to different experimental conditions. At a solution pH of 7.1, 6 microM protamine fulfills criteria of a selective tool for reversibly altering structure and function of the tight junction in Necturus gallbladder.

Animals

Norepinephrine stimulation of sodium transport in Necturus urinary bladder.

Norepinephrine alters the transepithelial electrical properties of an open-circuited urinary bladder from the mud puppy, Necturus maculosus. When 10(-5) M norepinephrine is superfused over the serosa of the epithelium, the transepithelial voltage (Vt) and short-circuit current (Isc) increase as the resistance (Rt) decreases. The norepinephrine-mediated changes are reversed by the addition of amiloride (5.10(-5) M) to the mucosal Ringer's solution. The serosal adrenoceptors mediating the Na+ transport are more sensitive to norepinephrine (EC50 = 1.2.10(-6) M) than to epinephrine or isoproterenol. Since the Isc is blocked selectively by the antagonist, phenoxybenzamine, stimulation of active transepithelial Na(+)-flux by catecholamines is mediated by an alpha-adrenoceptor. The apical cell membrane voltage (Va) and fractional resistance (fRa) were recorded using conventional KCl-filled microelectrodes. Untreated tissues have Va close to 0 mV while the basolateral membrane voltage (Vb) is between -85 and -95 mV. About 90% of Rt is apical cell membrane resistance (fRa). When amiloride inhibits sodium transport, Va becomes negative, Vb hyperpolarizes slightly and fRa increases to 97%. On the other hand, if the bladders are treated with norepinephrine, fRa decreases to 79% as Va becomes positive and Vb depolarizes. When Rt changes, the resistance of the paracellular pathway (Rp) is unaltered. Changes in the electrical properties of the tissue appear to be mediated primarily by alterations in Ra. Since the Necturus bladder does not respond to antidiuretic hormone, this study implies that biogenic amines regulate Na+ transport in the epithelium.

Animals

Differential distribution of different classes of Necturus retinal ganglion cells.

The responses of Necturus retinal ganglion cells were recorded extracellularly. Each cell was characterized by its response type and the distance between its receptive field center and the center of the optic disc. There was a statistically reliable difference between the locations of sustained-ON cell and the locations of sustained-OFF and ON-OFF cells. Thus, the different classes of Necturus retinal ganglion cells are differentially distributed across the surface of the retina.

Animals

The differentiation of Leydig cells, steroidogenesis, and the spermatogenetic wave in the testis of Necturus maculosus.

The study of seminiferous tubule--Leydig cell interactions in relation to specific germ cell stages during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium is extremely difficult in most mammalian species due to the continual presence of different spermatogenetic stages in the testis from the onset of puberty. The problem is also compounded by the uniform distribution of both seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue throughout the entire testis. This difficulty can be circumvented, however, by studying certain species where there is a topographical distribution of germ cell stages within the testis. The urodele amphibian Necturus maculosus exhibits a breeding cycle during which a longitudinal wave of spermatogenesis occurs along the length of the testis, resulting in a spatial and temporal segregation of differentiating germ cells. Moreover, this topographical pattern of spermatogenesis is also reflected in the degree of development of adjacent Leydig cells. This anatomical arrangement allows distinct testicular regions to be obtained using a dissecting microscope. The isolated zones, containing germ cells and Leydig cells in various stages of development, were analyzed for 17 alpha-hydroxylase, C-17,20-lyase, and aromatase activities (key enzymes for the synthesis of androgens and estrogen), estrogen binding, and cytochrome P-450 content. Functional parameters were then correlated with the morphology of Leydig cells in the various zones observed by both light and electron microscopy. It was found that there existed a distinct correlation between the state of differentiation of the leydig cells, their steroidogenic potential, and the distribution of estrogen receptors. These results in Necturus indicate indicate in this species, at least, the steroidal microenvironment of different germ cell associations may be quite specific.

Androgens

Paracellular shunt ultrastructure and changes in fluid transport in Necturus proximal tubule.

To define the structure-function relationships of the lateral intercellular space (LIS), we examined the ultrastructure of Necturus proximal tubule following experimental variation of fluid absorption with or without alteration of active sodium transport. Comparisons were made between (1) control (blood-perfused) kidneys and kidneys doubly perfused using either (2) Ringer solution with organic substrate, (3) Ringer solution with substrate in capillaries but steady-state solution in tubules, (4) Ringer without substrate, or (5) Ringer with low sodium. Intratubular and peritubular capillary pressures were monitored before and during standardized perfusion-fixation for electron microscopy and complete cross-sections of sampled proximal tubules were analyzed by morphometry. All morphometric parameters were the same for proximal tubules in kidneys perfused with blood and kidneys perfused with substrate Ringer. Morphometric parameters of cells and lateral intercellular spaces were the same for tubules with normal volume reabsorption rate (Jv) and with Jv = 0 in substrate-perfused kidneys, and for tubules in kidneys perfused without substrate. However, in kidneys perfused with low sodium, cell height, cell volume, LIS-volume, and average maximum width of LIS were significantly decreased while tight junction length and peritubular length of LIS were unchanged. The results suggest that the measured dimensions of the lateral intercellular space in Necturus proximal tubule are independent of the magnitude of transepithelial salt and fluid movement per se but influenced by hydrostatic pressure gradients and active sodium transport.

Animals

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

A peptide from the Drosophila Shaker K+ channel inhibits a voltage-gated K+ channel in basolateral membranes of Necturus enterocytes.

A synthetic peptide composed of the first 22 amino acid residues of the Drosophila Shaker K+ channel inhibits a voltage-gated K+ channel in basolateral membrane vesicles from Necturus enterocytes reconstituted in planar phospholipid bilayers when added to the solution bathing the inner surface of this channel but not when added to the solution bathing its outer surface. A modified peptide in which the leucine in the 7 position is replaced with phenylalanine is also an effective inhibitor, but replacement of the leucine-7 with lysine or glutamate, or digestion with trypsin, renders the peptide ineffective; replacement of the leucine-7 with glycine markedly reduces but does not abolish the effectiveness of the peptide as an inhibitor. These results are analogous to those reported for the Shaker K+ channel +ADHoshi, T., Zagotta, W.N. & Aldrich, R.W. (1990) Science 250, 533-538; and Zagotta, W.N., Hoshi, T. & Aldrich, R.W. (1990) Science 250, 568-571.+BD and suggest that the molecular anatomy of the receptor at the inner face of the Necturus K+ channel with which the peptide interacts to bring about inhibition of that channel may be similar to that of the Shaker K+ channel.

Amino Acid Sequence

Volume regulatory responses of basolateral membrane vesicles from Necturus enterocytes: role of the cytoskeleton.

Previous studies from this laboratory have demonstrated that basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from Necturus maculosus small intestinal epithelial cells possess a K(+) channel that is inhibited by ATP. In the present studies, we demonstrate that these vesicles, which are essentially devoid of soluble cytoplasmic contaminants, exhibit volume regulatory responses that parallel those of intact epithelial cells. Thus, suspension of these vesicles in a solution that is hypotonic to the intravesicular solution increases channel activity whereas suspension in a solution that is hypertonic to the intravesicular solution decreases, and may abolish, channel activity. These volume regulatory responses appear to be mediated by the same K(ATP) channel and depend on an intact actin cytoskeletal network. The responses to both hypotonic and hypertonic challenge are abolished by cytochalasin D or by incubating the vesicles under conditions that are known to depolymerize actin. Phalloidin, which is known to stabilize actin filaments, partially prevents the action of cytochalasin D. Thus, the present results indicate that the K(ATP) channel activity of basolateral membrane vesicles from Necturus basolateral membranes respond to hypo- and hypertonic challenge monotonically around an isotonic "set point" and that these responses depend on an intact actin cytoskeleton.

Actins

Na+-H+ exchange and Na+ entry across the apical membrane of Necturus gallbladder.

The role of Na+-H+ exchange in Na+ transport across the apical membrane was evaluated in Necturus gallbladder epithelium by means of intracellular Na+ activity (aNai) and 22Na+ uptake measurements. Under control conditions, complete replacement of Na+ in the mucosal solution with tetramethylammonium reduced aNai from 14.0 to 6.9 mM in 2 min (P less than 0.001). Mucosal addition of the Na+-H+ exchange inhibitor amiloride (10(-3) M) reduced aNai from 15.0 to 13.3 mM (P less than 0.001), whereas bumetanide (10(-5) and 10(-4) M) had no effect. Na+ influx across the apical membrane was studied by treating the tissues with ouabain, bathing them in Na-free solutions, and suddenly replacing the mucosal solution with an Na-containing solution. When the mucosal solution was replaced with Na-Ringer's, aNai increased at approximately 11 mM/min. This increase was inhibited by 54% by amiloride (10(-3) M, P less than 0.001) and was unaffected by bumetanide (10(-5) M). Amiloride-inhibitable Na+ fluxes across the apical membrane were also induced by the imposition of pH gradients. Na+ influx was also examined in tissues that had not been treated with ouabain. Under control conditions, 22Na+ influx from the mucosal solution into the epithelium was linear over the first 60 s and was inhibited by 40% by amiloride (10(-3) M, P less than 0.001) and by 19% by bumetanide (10(-5) M, P less than 0.025). We conclude that Na+-H+ exchange is a major pathway for Na+ entry in Necturus gallbladder, which accounts for at least half of apical Na+ influx both under transporting conditions and during exposure to ouabain. Bumetanide-inhibitable Na+ entry mechanisms may account for only a smaller fraction of Na+ influx under transporting conditions, and cannot explain influx in ouabain-treated tissues. These results support the hypothesis that NaCl entry results primarily from the operation of parallel Na+-H+ and Cl--HCO-3 exchangers, and not from a bumetanide-inhibitable NaCl cotransporter.

Amiloride

Extracellular ATP raises cytosolic calcium and activates basolateral chloride conductance in Necturus proximal tubule.

1. Extracellular nucleotides modulate ionic transport mechanisms in various epithelia. In the present study, we investigated the effects of extracellular ATP on the intracellular free Ca+2 concentration ([Ca2+]i) and electrophysiological properties of Necturus maculosus proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). 2. ATP raised [Ca2+]i in microdissected fura-2-loaded PCTs (half-maximal effect, approximately mumol 1(-1) ATP). The initial ATP-induced changes in [Ca2+]i were not blunted by the removal of external Ca2+ nor by the presence of Ca2+ channel blockers, but were abolished by thapsigargin and suramin. The sequence for the potency of various agonists on [Ca2+]i was 2-methylthioATP (2MeSATP) = ADP = ATP >> UTP, 2',3',-O-(4-benzoilbenzoil) ATP (BzATP), alpha, beta-methylene ATP (AMPCPP), adenosine. 3. In vivo electrophysiological measurements showed that 100 mumol 1(-1) peritubular ATP added to a Ringer solution reduced the basolateral cell membrane potential (Vm) and increased the cell membrane input conductance. In a low Cl- solution, this ATP-induced depolarization was enhanced. These effects were inhibited by 1 mmol l-1 SITS, consistent with the activation of a basolateral Cl- conductance. 4. The ATP-induced change in Vm was reproduced by ADP but not by UTP or adenosine, and was prevented by suramin. 5. The ATP-induced membrane depolarization was not influenced by thapsigargin, BAPTA AM, or staurosporine and was not reproduced by manoeuvres increasing [Ca2+]i or intracellular cAMP content. 6. We conclude that, in Necturus PCT, a P2y receptor mobilizes Ca2+ mainly from intracellular pools and increases a basolateral Cl- conductance, GCl. The activation of GCl occurs by a mechanism which is not related either to an increase in [Ca2+]i or cAMP content, or to PKC activation.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Transcellular sodium fluxes and pump activity in Necturus gall-bladder epithelial cells.

1. Transepithelial Na transport in Necturus was determined by measuring the rate of isotonic fluid flow. The rate at 20 degrees C was equivalent to 175 pmol cm-2 s-1. 2. Ouabain was effective in Necturus, binding to the Na pump in gall-bladder cells with a mean rate constant of 5.4 X 10(3) M-1 s-1. Measurement of the diffusive time constant of the free space for [3H]ouabain shows that the pump must be fully inhibited within 20 s when ouabain is applied to the serosa at 10(-3) M. 3. The serosal Na efflux from loaded cells was inhibited 36% by ouabain equal to a flux of 73 pmol cm-2 s-1. The remaining flux could not be attributed to either exchange diffusion or electrodiffusion induced by ouabain. 4. The transepithelial potential was 0.3 mV serosa positive. The short-circuit current measured was 6.33 +/- 1.9 microA cm-2, equal to a positive univalent ion flux of 65.6 pmol cm-2 s-1 or 38% of the net Na transfer. The current was inhibited within 1-5 min by 5 X 10(-5) M-amiloride. 5. Fluid secretion was immediately inhibited 34% by ouabain, equivalent to an isotonic transport of Na of 59.7 pmol cm-2 s-1. Thereafter it continued for at least an hour, sometimes declining slowly. Amiloride had little effect (13%). 6. The Na pump rate was measured by titrating the cell content with tracer Na at different times after ouabain treatment. The initial slope was equal to a rate of 61.6 pmol cm-2 s-1 or 35% of the net flux at time zero. 7. The Na pump rate has also been measured by recording the rise in cell Na activity with ion-specific micro-electrodes, and correcting for swelling effects. The Na pump rate was very similar to that estimated from the rise in tracer Na content, equal to 59.3 pmol cm-2 s-1 or 31.4% of the transepithelial rate. Examination of the same experiment in the literature shows a closely similar value, about one-third of that expected from fluid secretion or net flux measurements. 8. A scheme is proposed to explain the results, which requires a flow of NaCl through a parallel pathway of small Na content involving exchange en route with the cytoplasmic Na.

Action Potentials

Two types of potassium currents seen in isolated Necturus enterocytes with the single-electrode voltage-clamp technique.

1. The ionic permeability of Necturus maculosus small intestine epithelial cells was investigated using intracellular microelectrodes to measure membrane potential in intact tissue or by the single-electrode voltage-clamp technique in isolated cells. 2. The basolateral membrane of enterocytes appears to be K+ selective as demonstrated by the dependence of membrane potential and fractional serosal resistance measured in the intact epithelium on serosal K+ concentration. 3. Isolated cells had membrane potentials similar to those measured in the intact tissue. Voltage-clamp experiments in a physiological Ringer solution showed the presence of both large outward and inward currents. 4. Removal of Cl- from the bathing medium, linear subtraction or the use of a Cl- channel blocker revealed outwardly rectifying currents. The quasi-linear component was also revealed following K+ channel inhibition; it reversed near ECl, suggesting that the charge carrier was Cl-. 5. Outwardly rectifying currents could be kinetically resolved into two components. A fast component (tau for activation < 4 ms) accounted for 60-80% of the total current at positive potentials. A slowly activating component appeared at voltages positive to 50 mV with tau for activation of > 25 ms. 6. The slow outward current showed strong voltage dependence of both activation and relaxation, which were faster at more depolarized potentials. 7. Both fast and slow outward currents seem to be carried by K+ as they were blocked by Ba2+ and tetraethylammonium (TEA). Tail current analysis of the slow component indicated a reversal potential very similar to EK. 8. Fast outward currents were half-activated at about -40 mV whereas slow outward currents were only apparent at more positive potentials. It is proposed that the fast outward K+ current plays a role, together with Cl- currents, in determining the resting membrane potential of Necturus enterocytes.

Animals

Whole-cell currents in isolated resting Necturus gastric oxynticopeptic cells.

1. Necturus gastric mucosa secretes Cl- actively across the gastric glands which are composed almost entirely of acid- and enzyme-secreting oxynticopeptic cells. Single channel studies on Necturus oxynticopeptic cells have shown that the basolateral membrane possesses multiple K(+)-selective channels but no observable Cl- channels while the apical membrane has Cl- channels but no observable K+ channels. To relate these channel properties to the conductance of the whole cell we have investigated the macroscopic membrane currents with conventional whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. 2. When bathed in amphibian Ringer solution, gastric oxynticopeptic cells had a membrane resistance of 47.8 +/- 2.8 M omega and a membrane capacitance of 75.5 +/- 2.7 pF (n = 82). This gave a specific membrane resistance of 3260 +/- 160 omega cm2 (n = 82). Reversal potentials of the oxynticopeptic cells were -13.8 +/- 1.2 mV (n = 45) for an intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i) of 42 mM and were significantly more negative -24.4 +/- 3.1 mV (n = 31, P < 0.001) for [Cl-]i = 22 mM. 3. In the absence of ATP in the pipette solution, there was an 80% reduction of the whole-cell current with a typical half-time (t1/2) of 5 min. The run-down was not observed when the pipette solution contained 4 mM ATP. 4. A slow and voltage-independent inhibition of 80% of the whole-cell currents occurred after addition of NPPB (35 microM). Ba2+ (10 mM) produced a reversible inhibition of 20% of the total current. Together, 35 microM NPPB and 10 mM Ba2+ eliminated 95% of the whole-cell currents. These data suggest that in the resting oxynticopeptic cells Cl- carried the major fraction of the current while K+ ions carried only a small fraction. 5. Total replacement of Cl- in the pipette and bath solution by gluconate- increased the membrane resistance to 751 +/- 104 M omega (n = 53) and shifted the reversal potential to -38.1 +/- 2.8 mV (n = 53). 6. Increasing the bath K+ concentration from 6 to 91 mM activated a current which had a high selectivity for K+ over choline+, Li+, Na+, Rb+ and Cs+ and was independent of Cl-. The activation of this K+ current (IK*) by high external K+ was not seen with ATP-free pipette solution. 7. Ba2+ or Cs+ had a voltage-dependent blocking effect of this inward K+ current. Ouabain (1 mM) or SCH 28080 (200 microM), specific inhibitors of the Na+,K(+)-ATPase and H+,K(+)-ATPase, had no effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate

Diphenylamine-2-carboxylate blocks Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange in Necturus gallbladder epithelium.

Intracellular microelectrode techniques were employed to study the effects of diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC) on ion transport in Necturus gallbladder epithelium. Under control conditions, addition of DPC to the mucosal bathing solution caused a concentration-dependent, reversible hyperpolarization of both cell membranes with no measurable resistance changes. In addition, DPC caused the following effects, all consistent with inhibition of apical membrane Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange: fall in intracellular Cl- activity (aCli), increase in intracellular pH (pHi), reduction of the changes in aCli and pHi produced by lowering mucosal solution [Cl-], and reduction of the change in pHi produced by lowering mucosal solution [HCO3-]. Similar studies in theophylline-treated preparations indicate that DPC also inhibits anion exchange under these conditions, but has no effect on the apical membrane electrodiffusive Cl- permeability induced by cyclic AMP. Under these conditions, DPC caused cell membrane hyperpolarization but had no effect on the apparent ratio of membrane resistances. In addition, DPC had no effects on the rapid changes in apical membrane voltage elicited by altering mucosal [Cl-], but caused significant reductions of the slower, secondary voltage changes observed in response to changes in mucosal [Cl-], and the changes in aCli and pHi produced by lowering mucosal [Cl-]. Because others have demonstrated that DPC blocks Cl- channels in other epithelia (Distefano, A., M. Wittner, E. Schlatter, H. J. Lang, H. Englert, and R. Greger. Diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, a blocker of the Cl(-)-conductive pathway in Cl(-)-transporting epithelia. Pfluegers++ Arch. 405: S95-S100, 1985), it is possible that the structures of those channels and that induced by cyclic AMP in Necturus gallbladder are different. Because of its relatively high affinity and rapid reversibility, DPC may become useful in studies of anion exchange in other cells.

Animals

Measurements of intracellular pH in Necturus antral mucosa by microelectrode technique.

Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured in the surface epithelial cells of Necturus antrum using pH-sensitive intracellular microelectrodes. Electrodes were prepared by filling 10- to 20-M omega resistance glass microelectrodes with a H+ ion-selective exchange resin and calibrated before use in solutions of known pH 4.0-8.0. The electrode response (n = 15) was linear (r = 0.93; P less than 0.001) with a slope of 52.1 +/- 2.3 mV/pH unit. Antral mucosa was mounted in a modified Ussing chamber and pHi was determined from the difference between the potentials recorded by intracellular H+-selective and conventional microelectrodes. These measurements of pHi were validated by examining the response of the intracellular microelectrodes to 1) depolarization of the cell membrane produced by K+ substitution for Na+, and 2) alkalinization and acidification of pHi produced by NH+4 substitution for Na+ in the bathing solutions. In tissues bathed with HCO-3-Ringer solution (pH 7.0), the mean pHi was 7.34 +/- 0.02 with a range from 7.24 to 7.43. In N-2-hydroxymethylpiperazine-N' -ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES)-Ringer solution (pH 7.0), pHi was reduced to 7.02 +/- 0.05 (P less than 0.01). Acidification of the luminal solution to pH 6.8 with CO2 produced a 0.22 +/- 0.04-pH unit fall in pHi (P less than 0.001). In contrast, acidification to pH 4.0 with HCl had no significant effects on pHi. These findings indicate that HCO-3 may play an important role in pHi regulation in this tissue. In addition, they suggest that, in contrast to CO2, the surface epithelial cells of Necturus antrum are relatively resistant to acidification by luminal HCl.

Animals