Volume-induced increase of K+ and Cl- permeabilities in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Role of internal Ca2+

Beta-adrenergic control of cell volume and chloride transport in an established rat submandibular cell line

Rat submandibular cells treated with methylcholanthrene are able to be propagated in continuous culture while retaining beta-adrenergic responsiveness. A specific clone, RSMT-A5, has been isolated and studied in detail. RSMT-A5 cells possess beta-adrenergic receptors (BARS) as judged by [3H]-dihydroalprenolol ([3H]-DHA) binding studies. [3H]-DHA binds to RSMT-A5 membranes in a specific and saturable manner with respect to time and [3H]-DHA concentration. Specific binding is saturable within three min of incubation, and a Scatchard analysis reveals a single class of high affinity binding sites with an equilibrium dissociation constant of 0.62 +/- 0.03 nM and a receptor density of 101 +/- 4 fmole/mg protein. Antagonist competition studies indicate that the BARs are primarily of the beta 2-subtype. The BARs are functional since isoproterenol stimulation results in an increased intracellular cAMP content, marked morphological change, and decreased cell volume and chloride content. These same responses can be evoked by treating RSMT-A5 cells with 8-bromo-cAMP. Ion transport inhibitors such as bumetanide (an inhibitor of Na/K/Cl cotransport), SITS and DIDS (inhibitors of chloride-bicarbonate exchange), amiloride (an inhibitor of Na-H exchange), ouabain (an inhibitor of Na/K-ATPase), and dipyridamole and 9-anthracene carboxylic acid (chloride channel blockers) fail to inhibit the isoproterenol-stimulated change in chloride content. The effects of either isoproterenol or 8-bromo-cAMP on both chloride content and cell volume can be inhibited by the chloride channel blocker N-phenylanthranilic acid, however. Taken together, our results indicate that RSMT-A5 cells possess a beta-adrenergic receptor system which controls intracellular volume and chloride content by modulating transport processes that are 1) cAMP-responsive and 2) inhibitable by the putative chloride channel blocker N-phenylanthranilic acid.

The effect of hypoosmolarity on the electrical properties of Madin Darby canine kidney cells

The present study has been performed to test for the effect of hypotonic extracellular fluid on the electrical properties of Madin Darby canine kidney (MDCK)-cells. The volume of suspended MDCK-cells is 1,892 +/- 16 fl (n = 8) in isotonic (298.7 mosmol/l) extracellular fluid. Exposure of the cells to hypotonic (230.7 mosmol/l) extracellular fluid is followed by cellular swelling to 2,269 +/- 18 fl (n = 4) and subsequent volume regulatory decrease to 2,052 +/- 22 fl (n = 4) within 512 s. Volume regulatory decrease is abolished by quinidine (1 mmol/l) and by lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (50 mumol/l). The potential difference across the cell membrane averages -53.6 +/- 0.9 mV (n = 49) in isotonic extracellular perfusates. Reduction of extracellular osmolarity depolarizes the cell membrane by +25.7 +/- 0.8 mV (n = 67), reduces the apparent potassium selectivity of the cell membrane, from 0.55 +/- 0.07 (n = 9) to 0.09 +/- 0.01 (n = 26), and increases the apparent chloride selectivity from close to zero to 0.34 +/- 0.02 (n = 21). Potassium channel blocker barium (1 mmol/l) depolarizes the cell membrane by +15.2 +/- 1.1 mV (n = 13). In the presence of barium, reduction of extracellular osmolarity leads to a further depolarization by +14.0 +/- 1.4 mV (n = 12). Addition of chloride channel blocker anthracene-9-COOH (1 mmol/l) leads to a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane by -6.7 +/- 2.2 mV (n = 11). In the presence of anthracene-9-COOH, reduction of the extracellular osmolarity leads to a depolarization by +22.4 +/- 1.7 mV (n = 11).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of anisosmotic buffers on K+ transport in isolated chicken enterocytes

Cells isolated by hyaluronidase incubation from chicken small intestine were used to study the effects of anisosmotic buffers on K+ transport. Hypo-osmolarity (200 mosmol.l-1) reduced both the ouabain-sensitive and the ouabain-resistant, but bumetanide-sensitive, net K+ influx and increased the K+ efflux. The hypo-osmolarity induced K+ efflux was prevented by quinine and unaffected by bumetanide. These results suggest that Ca2+-activated K+ channels may be involved in regulatory volume decrease in chicken enterocytes. Hyperosmotic conditions (400 mosmol.l-1) increased the portion of net K+ influx mediated by the Na+/K+-ATPase and that mediated by the bumetanide-sensitive K+ transport system, and decreased the K+ efflux.

Effects of muscarinic, alpha-adrenergic, and substance P agonists and ionomycin on ion transport mechanisms in the rat parotid acinar cell. The dependence of ion transport on intracellular calcium

The relationship between receptor-mediated increases in the intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca]i) and the stimulation of ion fluxes involved in fluid secretion was examined in the rat parotid acinar cell. Agonist-induced increases in [Ca]i caused the rapid net loss of up to 50-60% of the total content of intracellular chloride (Cli) and potassium (Ki), which is consistent with the activation of calcium-sensitive chloride and potassium channels. These ion movements were accompanied by a 25% reduction in the intracellular volume. The relative magnitudes of the losses of Ki and the net potassium fluxes promoted by carbachol (a muscarinic agonist), phenylephrine (an alpha-adrenergic agonist), and substance P were very similar to their characteristic effects on elevating [Ca]i. Carbachol stimulated the loss of Ki through multiple efflux pathways, including the large-conductance Ca-activated K channel. Carbachol and substance P increased the levels of intracellular sodium (Nai) to more than 2.5 times the normal level by stimulating the net uptake of sodium through multiple pathways; Na-K-2Cl cotransport accounted for greater than 50% of the influx, and approximately 20% was via Na-H exchange, which led to a net alkalinization of the cells. Ionomycin stimulated similar fluxes through these two pathways, but also promoted sodium influx through an additional pathway which was nearly equivalent in magnitude to the combined uptake through the other two pathways. The carbachol-induced increase in Nai and decrease in Ki stimulated the activity of the sodium pump, measured by the ouabain-sensitive rate of oxygen consumption, to nearly maximal levels. In the absence of extracellular calcium or in cells loaded with the calcium chelator BAPTA (bis[o-aminophenoxy]ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) the magnitudes of agonist- or ionomycin-stimulated ion fluxes were greatly reduced. The parotid cells displayed a marked desensitization to substance P; within 10 min the elevation of [Ca]i and alterations in Ki, Nai, and cell volume spontaneously returned to near baseline levels. In addition to quantitating the activation of various ion flux pathways in the rat parotid acinar cell, these results demonstrate that the activation of ion transport systems responsible for fluid secretion in this tissue is closely linked to the elevation of [Ca]i.

Volume-dependent regulation of ion transport and membrane phosphorylation in human and rat erythrocytes

Osmotic swelling of human and rat erythrocytes does not induce regulatory volume decrease. Regulatory volume increase was observed in shrunken erythrocytes of rats only. This reaction was blocked by the inhibitors of Na+/H+ exchange. Cytoplasmic acidification in erythrocytes of both species increases the amiloride-inhibited component of 22Na influx by five- to eight-fold. Both the osmotic and isosmotic shrinkage of rat erythrocytes results in the 10- to 30-fold increase of amiloride-inhibited 22Na influx and a two-fold increase of furosemide-inhibited 86Rb influx. We failed to indicate any significant changes of these ion transport systems in shrunken human erythrocytes. The shrinking of quin 2-loaded human and rat erythrocytes results in the two- to threefold increase of the rate of 45Ca influx, which is completely blocked by amiloride. The dependence of volume-induced 22Na influx in rat erythrocytes and 45Ca influx in human erythrocytes on amiloride concentration does not differ. The rate of 45Ca influx in resealed ghosts was reduced by one order of magnitude when intravesicular potassium and sodium were replaced by choline. It is assumed that the erythrocyte shrinkage increases the rate of a nonselective Cao2+/(Nai+, Ki+) exchange. Erythrocyte shrinking does not induce significant phosphorylation of membrane protein but increases the 32P incorporation in diphosphoinositides. The effect of shrinkage on the 32P labeling of phosphoinositides is diminished after addition of amiloride. It is assumed that volume-induced phosphoinositide response plays an essential role in the mechanism of the activation of transmembrane ion movements.

Alteration of hepatic tissue spaces by platelet-activating factor and phenylephrine

Mean transit times for the movement of extracellular and intracellular reference compounds through isolated perfused rat livers were determined during exposure of livers to platelet-activating factor (AGEPC; 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and the alpha-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, using the multiple indicator dilution technique. From the outflow profiles of rapid bolus injections of 3H-sucrose and 14C-urea given to the liver, the estimated intracellular volume of distribution of small freely permeant substances, Vi, and the ratio of intracellular to extracellular space, were computed. Exposure of the liver to AGEPC decreased Vi and by 32 and 34%, respectively, from control values, whereas infusion of phenylephrine increased Vi by 16% and by 33%. The results indicate that the hemodynamic effects of AGEPC in perfused rat liver cause the apparent loss of tissue space accessible to small permeant compounds. Phenylephrine, although increasing hepatic vascular resistance, measured at the portal vein, by the same magnitude as AGEPC, led to an increase in the apparent tissue space accessible to this same species.

Water, K+, H+, lactate and glucose fluxes during cell volume regulation in perfused rat liver

The present study has been performed to test for ion release from isolated perfused rat liver exposed to hypotonic perfusates. Replacement of 40 mmol/l NaCl in perfusate by 80 mmol/l raffinose leads to slight alkalinization and slight decrease of liver weight. Subsequent decrease of perfusate osmolarity by omission of raffinose results in an increase of liver weight and a parallel increase of effluent sodium, chloride and potassium activity pointing to net uptake of solute free water. While effluent chloride and sodium activities approach perfusate activities within less than 2 min, a second, 6 min lasting increase of effluent potassium activity is observed, pointing to potassium release by the liver. This transient increase of effluent potassium activity is paralleled by a decrease of liver weight. Throughout exposure to hypotonic perfusates, lactate, pyruvate and glucose release by the liver is significantly decreased and effluent pH is rendered alkaline. Readdition of 80 mmol/l raffinose leads to rapid decrease of liver weight and a parallel decrease of effluent sodium, chloride and potassium activities followed by a 10-20 min lasting decrease of effluent potassium activity, pointing to net uptake of potassium, which almost matches the net release observed before. The transient decrease of potassium activity is paralleled by an increase of liver weight, an increase of effluent glucose, lactate and pyruvate concentration and an acidification of the effluent. Similar decrease of effluent potassium activity, acidification of effluent and increase of effluent glucose, lactate and pyruvate concentration are observed, if perfusates are made hypertonic by addition of raffinose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Presence of a charybdotoxin sensitive Ca2+-activated K+ channel in rat glioma C6 cells

A study was made of the 86Rb+ influx and efflux through Ca2+-activated K+ channels of intact rat glioma C6 cells after addition of a Ca2+ ionophore to the incubation medium. Half-maximal activation of the channels was obtained at a cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration of approximately 400 nM. The 86Rb+ ion flux through the Ca2+-activated K+ channels was insensitive to apamin, but was inhibited by low concentrations of charybdotoxin (IC50 = 1.6 nM). This is the first evidence for the presence of charybdotoxin-sensitive Ca2+-activated K+ channels in glial cells.

Volume-sensitive K influx in human red cell ghosts

K influx into resealed human red cell ghosts increases when the ghosts are swollen. The influx demonstrates properties similar to volume-sensitive K fluxes present in other cells. The influx is, for the most part, insensitive to the nature of the major intracellular cation and therefore is not a K-K exchange. The influx is much greater when the major anion is Cl than when the major anion is NO3; Cl stimulates the flux and, at constant Cl, NO3 inhibits it. Increase in the influx rate is rapid when shrunken ghosts are swollen or when NO3 is replaced by Cl. The volume-sensitive K influx requires intracellular MgATP at low concentrations, and ATP cannot be replaced by nonhydrolyzable ATP analogues. The volume-sensitive influx is inhibited by Mg2+ and by high concentrations of vanadate, but is stimulated by low concentrations of vanadate. It is not modified by cAMP, the removal of Ca2+ by EGTA, substances that activate protein kinase C, or by inhibition of phosphatidylinositol kinase. The influx is inhibited by neomycin and by trifluoperazine.

Hypotonic shock evokes opening of Ca2+-activated K channels in opossum kidney cells

Using the patch clamp technique we show that exposure of opossum kidney cells to hypotonic shock evokes an outward rectifying potassium current. The corresponding single channel slope conductance approaches 15 pS at depolarizing voltages. The K current also becomes activated after addition of the ionophore A23187 to an isotonic bath medium containing Ca2+. We therefore conclude that the K selective channels are modulated by an elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2+. Evidence is presented that release of Ca2+ from internal stores is involved.

Regulation of conductive Cl- transport in human fibroblasts

Under normal growth conditions, approximately 20% of the efflux of Cl- from human fibroblasts occurs via an electrically conductive pathway or Cl- channel. This basal Cl- conductance is insensitive to the Cl- -anion exchange inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and to the Cl- -cation cotransport inhibitor bumetanide. Exposure of the cells to dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) for 15 min increases the electrically conductive component of Cl- efflux by approximately 20%. Unlike the basal Cl- conductance, the cAMP-activated channel is DIDS sensitive, indicating that cAMP activates a different Cl- pathway from the one responsible for the basal Cl- conductance. Elevation of intracellular Ca2+ by addition of the ionophore A23187 also stimulates Cl- efflux via a DIDS inhibitable, electrically conductive Cl- pathway. That the cAMP- and Ca2+-stimulated pathways are different is suggested by the observation that simultaneous exposure of cells to optimal levels of dibutyryl cAMP and A23187 results in an increased Cl- efflux equal to the sum of the two factors acting independently. Prostaglandin E1, a known activator of adenylate cyclase, also elevates the levels of intracellular free Ca2+ in these cells and concomitantly activates both the cAMP- and the Ca2+-stimulated Cl- channels. Although regulated, Cl- channels are known to function in the modulation of nerve and muscle excitability, their role in fibroblast function is not clear.

Ca2+ sensitivity of volume-regulatory K+ and Cl- channels in cultured human epithelial cells

1. During exposure to a hypotonic solution, cultured human epithelial cells (Intestine 407) exhibited a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) after initial osmotic swelling. 2. The volume readjustment was slowed by elevating the extracellular K+ concentration and facilitated by reducing the extracellular Cl- concentration. Not only putative K+ channel blockers, quinine and Ba2+, but also a stilbene derivative Cl- channel blocker (SITS) inhibited the RVD. 3. The volume recovery of hypoosmotically swollen cells was very much suppressed by the deprivation of extracellular Ca2+ ions or by chelation of cytosolic Ca2+ ions with Quin-2 loaded within the cells. 4. Biphasic membrane potential changes were associated with the RVD process at low extracellular K+ and Cl- concentrations. The initial hyperpolarizing response was inhibited by quinine and Ba2+, whereas the late depolarizing response was inhibited by SITS. The deprivation of extracellular Ca2+ inhibited the initial hyperpolarizing phase but not the late depolarizing phase. 5. Two-microelectrode voltage clamp studies showed that the initial hyperpolarization and late depolarization were associated with quinine-sensitive outward currents and SITS-sensitive inward currents, respectively. The reversal potentials estimated from the current-voltage curves were about -80 mV for the initial response and -27 mV for the late response. Tenfold changes in the K+ and Cl- concentrations shifted these reversal potentials by 50 mV for the initial response and by 42 mV for the late response. 6. Under whole-cell recordings, similar current changes were observed in the cells exposed to a hypotonic solution, when the intracellular Ca2+ ions were moderately buffered with 1 mM-EGTA in the dialysing solution filled in a patch pipette. When most Ca2+ ions were chelated with 10 mM-EGTA in the pipette solution, the initial outward current as well as the corresponding hyperpolarization was suppressed, but the late current associated with the depolarizing phase was preserved. 7. Intracellular Ca2+ injections induced an increase in the quinine-sensitive K+ conductance but failed to activate the Cl- conductance. 8. It is concluded that both K+ and Cl- channels are involved in the regulatory volume decrease, and that the former channel is exclusively activated by elevation of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in the epithelial cells.

Ionic requirement for regulatory cell volume decrease in renal straight proximal tubules

The present study has been performed to test for the ionic requirement of regulatory cell volume decrease in isolated perfused straight proximal tubules of the mouse kidney. Reduction of peritubular osmolarity from 308 mosmol/l to 228 mosmol/l leads within 0.5 min to cell swelling by 16 +/- 1% (n = 26) of original cell volume (Vo). Within 2 min cell volume (V2) approaches 105 +/- 1% of Vo (n = 26) despite continued exposure to hypotonic bath perfusate. Reexposure of the tubules to isotonic bath perfusate shrinks the cells to 94 +/- 1% of Vo (n = 25). Within 2 min from omission of extracellular bicarbonate and CO2 regulatory cell volume decrease is impaired (V2 = 114 +/- 1% of Vo, n = 14). Similarly, regulatory volume decrease is blunted upon prior removal of extracellular sodium (V2 = 115 +/- 2% of Vo, n = 12). In contrast, regulatory volume decrease is not affected by prior removal of extracellular chloride (V2 = 104 +/- 2% of Vo, n = 9). Regulatory volume decrease is impaired in the presence of 1 mmol/l potassium channel blocker barium (V2 = 120 +/- 4% of Vo, n = 7) and of 1 mmol/l carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide (V2 = 111 +/- 2% of Vo, n = 16) but is preserved in the presence of 1 mumol/l chloride channel blocker NPPB (V2 = 105 +/- 2% of Vo, n = 11). In conclusion, regulatory cell volume decrease apparently depends on potassium and bicarbonate, but does not depend on chloride.

A Ca2+ influx in response to hypo-osmotic stress may alter osmolyte permeability by a phenothiazine-sensitive mechanism

The phenomenon of cell volume recovery following a hypo-osmotic stress mediated by intracellular osmolyte regulation is well known. In many, perhaps all, cell types, the osmolytes involved are usually inorganic ions and amino acids. The details of the regulatory mechanisms for the organic-type osmolytes are not well known. We have found that an immediate influx of external Ca2+ occurs coincident with the application of a hypo-osmotic stress into red cells of two invertebrate species. In both, the influx is initiated by the osmotic stress, not the concomitant ionic decrease. Volume recovery in clam red blood cells is blocked by phenothiazines. In addition, the effect of the phenothiazines is to reduce the amino acid efflux; the ionic portion of the volume response is unaffected. In contrast, the phenothiazines potentiate the volume recovery in worm red coelomocytes. A23187 also potentiates the volume recovery of the worm red cells. The results suggest that the Ca2+ influx is involved in the mechanism that alters cell membrane permeability permitting the amino acid efflux by a mechanism that may involve calmodulin.

Electrophysiology of cell volume regulation in proximal tubules of the mouse kidney

The present study has been designed to test for the influence of cell swelling on the potential difference and conductive properties of the basolateral cell membrane in isolated perfused proximal tubules. During control conditions the potential difference across the basolateral cell membrane (PDbl) is -65 +/- 1 mV (n = 74). Decrease of peritubular osmolarity by 80 mosmol/l depolarizes the basolateral cell membrane by +7.8 +/- 0.5 mV (n = 42). An increase of bath potassium concentration from 5 to 20 mmol/l depolarizes the basolateral cell membrane by +25 +/- 1 mV (n = 11), an increase of bath bicarbonate concentration from 20 to 60 mmol/l hyperpolarizes the basolateral cell membrane by -3.2 +/- 0.5 mV (n = 13). A decrease of bath chloride concentration from 79.6 to 27 mmol/l hyperpolarizes the basolateral cell membrane by -1.8 +/- 0.7 mV (n = 6). During reduced bath osmolarity, the influence of altered bath potassium concentration on PDbl is decreased (delta PDbl = +16 +/- 2 mV, n = 11), the influence of altered bicarbonate concentration on PDbl is increased (delta PDbl = -6.0 +/- 0.8 mV, n = 13), and the influence of altered bath chloride concentration on PDbl is unaffected (delta PDbl = -1.8 +/- 0.6 mV, n = 6). Barium depolarizes the basolateral cell membrane to -28 +/- 2 mV (n = 16). In the presence of 1 mmol/l barium, decrease of peritubular osmolarity by 80 mosmol/l leads to a transient hyperpolarization of the basolateral cell membrane by -5.9 +/- 0.5 mV (n = 16).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Na+/H+ exchange in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: activation by cytoplasmic acidification and by treatment with cupric sulphate

Exposure of Ehrlich cells to isotonic Na+-propionate medium induces a rapid cell swelling. This treatment is likely to impose an acid load on the cells. Cell swelling is absent in K+-propionate medium but may be induced by the ionophore nigericin, which mediates K+/H+ exchange. Cell swelling in Na+-propionate medium is blocked by amiloride, but an alternative pathway is introduced by addition of the ionophore monensin, which mediates Na+/H+ exchange. Consequently, swelling of Ehrlich cells in Na+-propionate medium is due to the operation of an amiloride-sensitive, Na+-specific mechanism. It is concluded that this mechanism is a Na+/H+ exchange system, activated by cytoplasmic acidification. We have previously demonstrated that the heavy metal salt CuSO4 in micromolar concentrations inhibits regulatory volume decrease (RVD) of Ehrlich cells following hypotonic swelling. The present work shows that CuSO4 inhibits RVD as a result of a net uptake of sodium, of which the major part is sensitive to amiloride. Measurements of intracellular pH show that CuSO4 causes significant cytoplasmic alkalinization, which is abolished by amiloride. Concomitantly, CuSO4 causes an amiloride-sensitive net proton efflux from the cells. The combined results confirm that a Na+/H+ exchange system exists in Ehrlich cells and demonstrate that the heavy metal salt CuSO4 activates this Na+/H+ exchange system.

Volume response of quiescent and interleukin 2-stimulated T-lymphocytes to hypotonicity

Regulatory volume decreased (RVD) in lymphocytes in response to hyptonically induced swelling is dependent on the membrane permeabilities of K+, Cl-, and H2O. We used electronic cell sizing, cell water determination, and the whole cell patch-clamp method to study these membrane permeabilities in the cloned mouse T-lymphocyte, L2. Quiescent L2 cells express low levels of a voltage-gated K+ channel and show no RVD at 25 degrees C. In contrast, L2 cells stimulated to proliferate with the growth factor interleukin 2 have increased K+ conductance and show RVD in response to hypotonicity. RVD in stimulated cells is blocked by quinine and verapamil at levels that also completely block the voltage-gated K+ conductance. Swollen, unstimulated L2 cells can be induced to shrink by addition of the monovalent cation ionophore gramicidin in the presence of impermeant extracellular organic cations; gramicidin also enhances the rate of RVD in stimulated cells. Additionally, the anion transport inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS) blocks this gramicidin-facilitated RVD. These results suggest that a minimum requisite Cl- permeability is present even in the unstimulated L2 cells, that a necessary and limiting K+ permeability determines the rate of RVD, and that this K+ permeability increases after growth-factor stimulation as predicted from the direct measurement of voltage-gated K+ conductance. The hydraulic permeability is approximately 70% greater in proliferating L2 cells than in quiescent cells. At 37 degrees C, some RVD occurs in unstimulated L2 cells, and stimulated cells show faster and more complete shrinkage. These results are discussed with respect to the underlying membrane permeabilities and their relation to stimulated cell proliferation.

The Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport in C6 glioma cells. Properties and role in volume regulation

The role of the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter in the regulation of the volume of C6 astrocytoma cells was analyzed using isotopic fluxes and cell cytometry measurements of the cell volume. The system was inhibited by 'loop diuretics' with the following order of potency: benzmetanide greater than bumetanide greater than piretanide greater than furosemide. Under physiological conditions of osmolarity of the incubation media, equal rates of bumetanide-sensitive inward and outward K+ fluxes were observed. Blockade of the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransporter with bumetanide did not lead to a modification in the mean cell volume. When C6 cells were incubated in an hyperosmotic solution, a cell shrinkage was observed. It was accompanied by a twofold increase in the activity of the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport, which then catalyzed the net influx of K+. In spite of this increased activity, no cell swelling could be measured. Incubation of the cells in an iso-osmotic medium deprived of either Na+, K+ or Cl- also produced cell shrinkage. Large activations (up to tenfold) of the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport together with a cell swelling back to the normal volume were observed upon returning ion-deprived C6 cells to a physiological solution. This cell swelling was completely prevented in the presence of bumetanide. It is concluded that the Na+/K+/Cl- cotransport system is one of the transport systems involved in volume regulation of glial cells. The system can either be physiologically quiescent or active depending on the conditions used. A distinct volume regulating mechanism is the Na+/H+ exchange system.

Role of Ca2+-activated K+ channel in regulation of NaCl reabsorption in thick ascending limb of Henle's loop

1. Reabsorption of NaCl in the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop involves the integrated function of the Na+,K+,Cl- -cotransport system and a Ca2+-activated K+ channel in the luminal membrane with the Na+,K+-pump and a net Cl- conductance in the basolateral membrane. 2. Assay of K+ channel activity after reconstitution into phospholipid vesicles shows that the K+ channel is stimulated by Ca2+ in physiological concentrations and that its activity is regulated by calmodulin and phosphorylation from cAMP dependent protein kinase. 3. For purification luminal plasma membrane vesicles are isolated and solubilized in CHAPS. K+ channel protein is isolated by affinity chromatography on calmodulin columns. The purified protein has high Ca2+-activated K+ channel activity after reconstitution into vesicles. 4. The purified K+ channel consists of two proteins of 51 and 36 kDa. Phosphorylation from cAMP dependent protein kinase stimulates K+ channel activity and labels the 51 kDa band. The 36 kDa band is rapidly cleaved by trypsin and may be involved in Ca2+ stimulation. 5. Opening of the K+ channel by Ca2+ in physiological concentrations and regulation by calmodulin and phosphorylation by protein kinase may mediate kinetic and hormonal regulation of NaCl transport across the tubule cells in TAL.

Effect of anisotonic media on volume, ion and amino-acid content and membrane potential of kidney cells (MDCK) in culture

Effects of anisotonic media on a monolayer of confluent kidney cells in culture (MDCK) were studied by measuring: cell thickness and cross-section changes, ion and amino-acid content and membrane potential. The volume was also determined with cells in suspension. When cells in a monolayer were incubated in hypotonic media, the lateral and the apical membranes were rapidly stretched. Afterwards the lateral membranes returned to their initial state while the apical membranes remained stretched. This partial regulatory volume decrease (RVD) was verified with cells in suspension. RVD was accompanied by a loss of K+, Cl- and amino acids, but there was no loss of inorganic phosphate. Also a transient hyperpolarization of the membrane potential was observed, suggesting an increase of the K+ conductance during RVD. Upon restoring the isotonic medium, a regulatory volume increase (RVI) was observed accompanied by a rapid Na+ and Cl- increase and followed by a slow recovery of the initial K+ and Na+ content while amino acids remained at their reduced content. A transient depolarization of the membrane potential was measured during this RVI, suggesting that Na+ and Cl- conductance could have increased. In hypertonic media, only a small and slow RVI was observed accompanied by an increase in K+ and Cl- content but without any change of membrane potential. Quinine partly inhibited RVD in hypotonic media with cells in a monolayer while inhibiting RVD completely with cells in suspension. Incubation during four hours in a Ca2+ free medium had no effect on RVD. Furosemide and amiloride had no effect on RVD and RVI. Volume regulation, RVD or RVI, was not affected by replacing Cl- by nitrate. When cells in a monolayer were incubated in a hypotonic K2SO4 medium, no RVD was observed. From these results, it seems that MDCK cells in a confluent monolayer regulate their volume by activating specific ion and amino-acid transport pathways. Selective K+ and Na+ conductances are activated during RVD and RVI, while the activated anion conductance has a low selectivity. The controlling mechanism might not be the free intracellular Ca2+ concentration.

Volume regulatory activity of the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell and its relationship to ion transport

The volume regulatory response of the Ehrlich ascites tumor was studied in KCl-depleted, Na+-enriched cells. Subsequent incubation in K+-containing NaCl medium results in the reaccumulation of K+, Cl-, water and the extrusion of Na+. The establishment of the physiological steady state is due primarily to the activity of 2 transport systems. One is the Na/K pump (KM for K+o = 3.5 mM; Jmax = 30.1 mEq/kg dry min), which in these experiments was coupled 1K+/1 Na+. The second is the Cl--dependent (Na+ + K+) cotransport system (KM for K+o = 6.8 mM; Jmax = 20.8 mEq/kg dry min) which mediates, in addition to net ion uptake in the ratio of 1K+:1Na+:2Cl-, the exchange of K+i for K+o. The net passive driving force on the cotransport system is initially inwardly directed but does not decrease to zero at the steady state. This raises the possibility of the involvement of an additional source of energy. Although cell volume increases concomitant with net ion uptake, this change does not appear to be a major factor regulating the activity of the cotransport system.

Volume-sensitive Cl-dependent K transport in human erythrocytes

Passive K fluxes, measured with 86Rb, were investigated in osmotically swollen human erythrocytes. K influx and efflux increased progressively with increased hypotonicity up to 167 mosmol/kg. No increase in K flux was seen when NO3 or methylSO4 were substituted for Cl. Substitution of choline or N-methylglucamine for external Na reduced the K flux in swollen cells by only 22%, compared with a 60% reduction in euvolumic cells. However, the magnitude of this Na-dependent component was slightly, but significantly, higher in swollen cells. The presence of Na-dependent K influx in swollen cells was confirmed by measurements of Na influx demonstrating a K-dependent Na influx of similar magnitude in isovolumic and swollen cells. The volume-sensitive K flux was inhibited by bumetanide, but significantly less so than was Cl-dependent flux in isovolumic cells (half-maximal inhibition at 1.0 X 10(-4) vs. 5.8 X 10(-7) M). Kinetic analysis revealed that Cl-dependent K influx had a lower affinity for external K in swollen cells than in euvolumic cells (Km was 29.8 vs. 6.1 mM). The increased K flux in swollen cells was found to be transient, decreasing substantially and reverting back to a predominantly Na-dependent and more bumetanide-sensitive form after 2 h. The results indicate that swelling of human erythrocytes activates a transient Cl-dependent K flux that differs significantly from that in isovolumic cells in that it is less Na dependent, less sensitive to bumetanide, and has a lower affinity for K. Na-K cotransport is either unaffected or slightly increased in swollen cells. The altered flux in swollen cells would thermodynamically favor a volume-regulatory KCl efflux.

Effect of arachidonic acid, fatty acids, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes on volume regulation in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Arachidonic acid inhibits the cell shrinkage observed in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells during regulatory volume decrease (RVD) or after addition of the Ca ionophore A23187 plus Ca. In Na-containing media, arachidonic acid increases cellular Na uptake under isotonic as well as under hypotonic conditions. Arachidonic acid also inhibits KCl and water loss following swelling in Na-free, hypotonic media even when a high K conductance has been ensured by addition of gramicidin. In isotonic, Na-free medium arachidonic acid inhibits A23187 + Ca-induced cell shrinkage in the absence but not in the presence of gramicidin. It is proposed that inhibition of RVD in hypotonic media by arachidonic acid is caused by reduction in the volume-induced Cl and K permeabilities as well as by an increase in Na permeability and that reduction in A23187 + Ca-induced cell shrinkage is due to a reduction in K permeability and an increase in Na permeability. The A23187 + Ca-activated Cl permeability in unaffected by arachidonic acid. PGE2 inhibits RVD in Na-containing, hypotonic media but not in Na-free, hypotonic media, indicating a PGE2-induced Na uptake. PGE2 has no effect on the volume-activated K and Cl permeabilities. LTB4, LTC4 and LTE4 inhibit RVD insignificantly in hypotonically swollen cells. LTD4, moreover, induces cell shrinkage in steady-state cells and accelerates the RVD following hypotonic exposure. The effect of LTD4 even reflects a stimulating effect on K and Cl transport pathways. Thus none of the leukotrienes show the inhibitory effect found for arachidonic acid on the K and Cl permeabilities. The RVD response in hypotonic, Na-free media is, on the other hand, also inhibited by addition of the unsaturated oleic, linoleic, linolenic and palmitoleic acid, even in the presence of the cationophor gramicidin. The saturated arachidic and stearic acid had no effect on RVD. It is, therefore, suggested that a minor part of the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid on RVD in Na-containing media is via an increased synthesis of prostaglandins and that the major part of the arachidonic acid effect on RVD in Na-free media, and most probably also in Na-containing media, is due to the inhibition of the volume-induced K and Cl transport pathways, caused by a nonspecific detergent effect of an unsaturated fatty acid.

Role of prostaglandins and leukotrienes in volume regulation by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

PGE2 and LTC4 syntheses in Ehrlich ascites cells were measured by radioimmunoassay. Hypotonic swelling results in stimulation of the leukotriene synthesis and a concomitant reduction in the prostaglandin synthesis. If the cells have access to sufficient arachidonic acid there is a parallel increase in the synthesis of both leukotrienes and prostaglandins following hypotonic exposure. PGE2 significantly inhibits regulatory volume decrease (RVD) following hypotonic swelling in Na-containing medium but not in Na-free media, supporting the hypothesis that the effect of PGE2 is on the Na permeability. PGE2 also had no effect on RVD in Na-free media in the presence of the cation ionophore gramicidin. Since the Cl permeability becomes rate limiting for RVD in the presence of gramicidin, whereas the K permeability is rate limiting in its absence, it is concluded that PGE2 neither affects Cl nor K permeability. Addition of LTD4 accelerates RVD and since the K permeability is rate limiting for RVD this shows that LTD4 stimulates the K permeability. Inhibition of the leukotriene synthesis by nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibits RVD even when a high K conductance has been ensured by the presence of gramicidin. It is, therefore, proposed that an increase in leukotriene synthesis after hypotonic swelling is involved also in the activation of the Cl transport pathway.

Activation of electroneutral K flux in Amphiuma red blood cells by N-ethylmaleimide. Distinction between K/H exchange and KCl cotransport

Exposure of Amphiuma red blood cells to millimolar concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) resulted in net K loss. In order to determine whether net K loss was conductive or was by electroneutral K/H exchange or KCl cotransport, studies were performed evaluating K flux in terms of the thermodynamic forces to which K flux by the above pathways should couple. The direction and magnitude of the NEM-induced net K flux did not correspond with the direction and magnitude of the forces relevant to K conductance or electroneutral KCl cotransport. Both the magnitude and direction of the NEM-activated K flux responded to the driving force for K/H exchange. We therefore conclude that NEM-induced K loss, like that by osmotically swollen Amphiuma red blood cells, is by an electroneutral K/H exchanger. In addition to the above studies, we evaluated the kinetic behavior of the volume- and NEM-induced K/H exchange flux pathways in media where Cl was replaced by SCN, NO3, para-aminohippurate (PAH), or gluconate. The anion replacement studies did not permit a distinction between K/H exchange and KCl cotransport, since, depending upon the anion used as a Cl replacement, partial inhibition or stimulation of volume-activated K/H exchange fluxes was observed. In contrast, all anions used were stimulatory to the NEM-induced K loss. Since, on the basis of force-flow analysis, both volume-and NEM-induced K loss are K/H exchange, it was necessary to reevaluate assumptions (i.e., anions serve as substrates and therefore probe the translocation step) associated with the use of anion replacement as a means of flux route identification. When viewed together with the force-flow studies, the Cl replacement studies suggest that anion effects upon K/H exchange are indirect. The different anions appear to alter mechanisms that couple NEM exposure and cell swelling to the activation of K/H exchange, as opposed to exerting direct effects upon K and H translocation.

Purification of Ca2+-activated K+ channel protein on calmodulin affinity columns after detergent solubilization of luminal membranes from outer renal medulla

A method is developed for purification of the protein of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel from outer renal medulla of pig kidney. The response of this K+ channel to physiological concentrations of Ca2+ is important for regulation of transtubular NaCl transport. In reconstituted vesicles direct addition of calmodulin doubles Ca2+ activation with sufficient affinity (K1/2 0.1 nM) for chromatographic purification of the protein. For purification luminal plasma membrane vesicles are isolated on metrizamide density gradients and solubilized in CHAPS. The fraction of soluble protein retained on calmodulin-Sepharose 4B columns in the presence of Ca2+ and eluted by EGTA is 0.7%. The purified protein has high Ca2+-activated K+ channel activity after reconstitution into phospholipid vesicles. It distributes on two bands of 51 and 36 kDa after gel electrophoresis in SDS. The 36 kDa band is rapidly cleaved by trypsin and may be involved in Ca2+ stimulation of the channel. Phosphorylation from cAMP-dependent protein kinase strongly stimulates Ca2+-activated K+ channel activity and labels the 51 kDa band suggesting that this protein is involved in regulation of K+ channel opening.

Electrical properties of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

The cell membrane potential (PD) of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells was measured continuously at 37 degrees C with conventional microelectrodes during rapid alterations of extracellular fluid composition. At extracellular electrolyte composition mimicking the in vivo situation PD is -56.7 +/- 0.7 mV and the apparent membrane resistance is 62.2 +/- 2.2 M omega. Increasing extracellular potassium concentration from 5.4 to 20.0 mmol/l depolarizes the cell membrane by +18.4 +/- 0.5 mV. Thus, the transference number for potassium (tk, apparent slope potassium conductance over slope membrane conductance) is 0.53 +/- 0.01. A significant correlation is observed between tk and PD: tk = -(0.014 +/- 0.001) [1/mV] X PD [mV] -(0.243 +/- 0.051). 0.7 mmol/l barium depolarizes the cell membrane by +28.2 +/- 0.7 mV, increases the apparent membrane resistance by a factor of 2.6 +/- 0.1 and abolishes the apparent potassium conductance. Reduction of extracellular sodium concentration from 141 to 21 mmol/l depolarizes the cell membrane by +3.1 +/- 1.3 mV. Similarly, 0.1 mmol/l amiloride depolarizes the cell membrane by +3.3 +/- 0.7 mV. Reduction of extracellular chloride concentration from 128 to 67 mmol/l hyperpolarizes the cell membrane by -2.5 +/- 0.2 mV. 1 mmol/l anthracene-9-COOH does not significantly alter PD. Temporary omission of glucose from the extracellular fluid has no appreciable effect on PD. In conclusion, PD of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells is in the range of other mammalian epithelial cells and is generated mainly by potassium diffusion, while the conductances to sodium and chloride appear to be small.

A possible role for K+ channels in tumor cell injury. Membrane vesicle shedding and nuclear DNA fragmentation

Mastocytoma P815 tumor cells subjected to low temperature (O degrees C/l h) and shifted to 22 degrees or 37 degrees C undergo morphological, physiological and biochemical changes which are analogous to those induced by immune effector cells, i.e., changes in cell-surface morphology and membrane permeability, elevated O2 consumption rates and nuclear DNA fragmentation [18-21]. Utilizing this low-temperature shift method for the induction of cell injury, we investigated the possible role of K+ channels in this process. Results show that the two classical K+ channel blockers, tetraethylammonium (TEA) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), inhibited the low temperature-induced cell-surface membrane vesicle shedding as well as the nuclear DNA-fragmentation process. These results indicate that K+ channel function is required for tumor-cell injury as manifested by nuclear DNA fragmentation and cell-surface membrane vesicle (MV) shedding.

Enhancement of conductive anion permeability in cultured cells by cetiedil

Cetiedil, a drug that is reported to block K+-channels, substantially increases the conductive C1- permeability of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The permeability was monitored by volume changes in cells treated with gramicidin to increase the cation permeability. Under this circumstance, increases in Cl- conductances result in volume changes detectable by electronic sizing, with the direction determined by the gradients of the permeating ions. In NaCl or KCl media, swelling occurs, but in N-methylglucamine chloride, shrinking. The increases in Cl- conductance could also be measured as an increased 36Cl- flux or by changes in membrane potential (measured by fluorescence of a potential-sensitive dye) toward the Cl- equilibrium potential. The effect of cetiedil was concentration dependent, with maximal effect at 50 microM. The anion specificity for the conductance was NO3- greater than Cl- = Br- much greater than SO4-2 or isethionate. A number of other drugs that influence transport activities had no effect on Cl- conductance. The cetiedil effect on Cl- conductance was observed in one other cell line, but was absent in several other cell types. The cetiedil-induced Cl- conductance in CHO cells appears to involve a different pathway than that induced by exposure to hypotonic medium.

Volume-sensitive taurine transport in fish erythrocytes

Taurine plays an important role in cell volume regulation in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Erythrocytes from two euryhaline fish species, the eel (Anguilla japonica) and the starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) were found to contain high intracellular concentrations of this amino acid (approximately equal to 30 mmol per liter of cell water). Kinetic studies established that the cells possessed a saturable high-affinity Na+-dependent beta-amino-acid transport system which also required Cl- for activity (apparent Km (taurine) 75 and 80 microM; Vmax 0.85 and 0.29 mumol/g Hb per hr for eel (20 degrees C) and flounder cells (10 degrees C), respectively. This beta-system operated with an apparent Na+/Cl-/taurine coupling ratio of 2:1:1. A reduction in extracellular osmolarity, leading to an increase in cell volume, reversibly decreased the activity of the transporter. In contrast, low medium osmolarity stimulated the activity of a Na+-independent nonsaturable transport route selective for taurine, gamma-amino-n-butyric acid and small neutral amino acids, producing a net efflux of taurine from the cells. Neither component of taurine transport was detected in human erythrocytes. It is suggested that these functionally distinct transport routes participate in the osmotic regulation of intracellular taurine levels and hence contribute to the homeostatic regulation of cell volume. Volume-induced increases in Na+-independent taurine transport activity were suppressed by noradrenaline and 8-bromoadenosine-3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate, but unaffected by the anticalmodulin drug, pimozide.

Cytoplasmic [Ca2+] and intracellular pH in lymphocytes. Role of membrane potential and volume-activated Na+/H+ exchange

The effect of elevating cytoplasmic Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) on the intracellular pH (pHi) of thymic lymphocytes was investigated. In Na+-containing media, treatment of the cells with ionomycin, a divalent cation ionophore, induced a moderate cytoplasmic alkalinization. In the presence of amiloride or in Na+-free media, an acidification was observed. This acidification is at least partly due to H+ (equivalent) uptake in response to membrane hyperpolarization since: it was enhanced by pretreatment with conductive protonophores, it could be mimicked by valinomycin, and it was decreased by depolarization with K+ or gramicidin. In addition, activation of metabolic H+ production also contributes to the acidification. The alkalinization is due to Na+/H+ exchange inasmuch as it is Na+ dependent, amiloride sensitive, and accompanied by H+ efflux and net Na+ gain. A shift in the pHi dependence underlies the activation of the antiport. The effect of [Ca2+]i on Na+/H+ exchange was not associated with redistribution of protein kinase C and was also observed in cells previously depleted of this enzyme. Treatment with ionomycin induced significant cell shrinking. Prevention of shrinking largely eliminated the activation of the antiport. Moreover, a comparable shrinking produced by hypertonic media also activated the antiport. It is concluded that stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange by elevation of [Ca2+]i is due, at least in part, to cell shrinking and does not require stimulation of protein kinase C.

Furosemide-sensitive Na+ and K+ transport and human erythrocyte volume

The relationship between cation transport and cell volume in human erythrocytes was investigated by measuring ouabain-sensitive K+ influx, ouabain-resistant, furosemide-sensitive K+ influx, and ouabain + furosemide-resistant K+ influx, and maximal ouabain binding in microcytic, normocytic and macrocytic red cells. A significant correlation was found between the mean corpuscular volume and furosemide-sensitive K+ influx normalized either to cell number (r = 0.636, P less than 0.001) or to cell volume (r = 0.488, P less than 0.001). No relationship was seen between mean corpuscular volume and ouabain-sensitive K+ influx, and the number of ouabain-binding sites per cell was only weakly correlated with mean corpuscular volume (r = 0.337, P less than 0.05). A slight, negative relationship existed between mean corpuscular volume and ouabain + furosemide-resistant K+ influx expressed per volume of cells (r = -0.359, P less than 0.01), and an apparent relationship between furosemide-sensitive K+ influx and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (r = 0.446, P less than 0.01) disappeared when microcytic samples were excluded from analysis. Furosemide-sensitive transport, including Na+ influx and K+ and Na+ efflux, was completely absent in microcytic cells from one patient with alpha-thalassemia minor. In addition, these cells exhibited a furosemide-resistant, Cl(-)-dependent K+ influx. Exposure of normal erythrocytes to hypotonic conditions (196 mosM) increased furosemide-sensitive K+ influx by a mean of 45% (P less than 0.05), while exposure to hypertonic conditions (386 mosM) had no significant effect. The results indicate that furosemide-sensitive transport and cell volume are interrelated in human erythrocytes. However, the inability to fully recreate this relationship with in vitro manipulation of cell volume suggest that this relationship is established prior to red cell maturation.

Isovolumetric regulation of isolated S2 proximal tubules in anisotonic media

Sudden alteration in medium osmolality causes an osmometric change in proximal tubule cell size followed by restoration of cell volume toward normal in hypotonic but not in hypertonic medium. We determined the capability of isolated nonperfused proximal tubules to prevent a change in cell volume in anisotonic media. The external osmolality was gradually changed over a range from 110 to 480 mosM. At 1.5 mosM/min, cell volume remained constant between 167 +/- 9 and 361 +/- 7 mosM, a phenomenon termed isovolumetric regulation (IVR). Cells lost intracellular solutes in hypotonic and gained intracellular solutes in hypertonic media. Raffinose or choline chloride substitution showed that osmolality, rather than NaCl, signalled cell volume maintenance in hyperosmotic media. Cooling (7-10 degrees C) blocked IVR. IVR was maintained when osmolality was lowered at a rate of 27, but not at 42 mosM/min. IVR was not observed when the rate of osmolality increase exceeded 3 mosM/min. We conclude that proximal tubule cells sensitively regulate intracellular volume in an osmolality range of pathophysiologic interest by mechanisms dependent on the rate of net water movement across basolateral membranes and the absolute intracellular content of critical solutes.

Effect of ouabain and bumetanide on the basal and the osmolality-affected prolactin secretion from human decidual cells in vitro

Human decidual explants were incubated in vitro in media containing 10(-5) mol/l ouabain or 10(-4) mol/l ouabain or 0.5 X 10(-4) mol/l bumetanide to change the intracellular ionic concentrations. In isosmotic incubations (osmolality 315 mmol/kg), no significant effect of either 10(-5) mol/l ouabain or 0.5 X 10(-4) mol/l bumetanide was found on the decidual prolactin secretion (D-PRL-s). 10(-4) mol/l ouabain significantly decreased both decidual prolactin production and D-PRL-s (P less than 0.05) and was therefore not used for the following cross-over experiments. Hyperosmotic media (387 mmol/kg) were produced by changing the concentration of either sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or mannitol. All increased D-PRL-s compared with the isosmotic media (315 mmol/kg). 10(-5) mol/l ouabain significantly diminished the increase otherwise elicited by the sodium chloride and the mannitol hyperosmotic media. However, in the hyperosmotic potassium chloride medium with 10(-5) mol/l ouabain, the D-PRL-s remained increased. The hyperosmotic medium (252 mmol/kg) reduced D-PRL-s compared with the isosmotic media (315 mmol/kg) and no significant effect of ouabain was found. Bumetanide did not change the D-PRL-s into any of the hypo- or hyperosmotic media compared with the secretion at 315 mmol/kg. Based on experience from other cell types, the results further indicate that the intracellular ionic concentrations could be of importance to the secretion of decidual prolactin in vitro.

Identification of the anion exchange protein of Ehrlich cells: a kinetic analysis of the inhibitory effects of 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene-disulfonic acid (DIDS) and labeling of membrane proteins with 3H-DIDS

In Ehrlich ascites tumor cells 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene-disulfonic acid (DIDS) inhibits the chloride exchange both reversibly and irreversibly. The reversible inhibition is practically instantaneous and of a competitive nature with Ki about 2 microM at zero chloride concentration. This is succeeded by a slow irreversible binding of DIDS to the transporter, with a chloride dependence suggesting binding to the same site as for reversible DIDS binding/inhibition. To identify the membrane protein involved in anion exchange, cells were labeled with 3H-DIDS. Incubation of cells for 10 min with 25 microM DIDS at pH 8.2 leads to more than 95% inhibition of the DIDS-sensitive chloride exchange flux when the chloride concentration is low (15 mM). This condition was used for the 3H-DIDS-labeling experiments. After incubation the cells were disrupted, the membranes isolated and solubilized, and the proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The distribution of the 3H-activity in the gel showed only one major peak, which could be related to protein with a mol wt of about 30,000 Daltons. The number of transport sites was estimated at about 400,000 per cell, and from the DIDS-sensitive chloride flux under steady-state conditions we calculate a turnover number of 340 ions per sec per site.

Separate, Ca2+-activated K+ and Cl- transport pathways in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

The net loss of KCl observed in Ehrlich ascites cells during regulatory volume decrease (RVD) following hypotonic exposure involves activation of separate conductive K+ and Cl- transport pathways. RVD is accelerated when a parallel K+ transport pathway is provided by addition of gramicidin, indicating that the K+ conductance is rate limiting. Addition of ionophore A23187 plus Ca2+ also activates separate K+ and Cl- transport pathways, resulting in a hyperpolarization of the cell membrane. A calculation shows that the K+ and Cl- conductance is increased 14- and 10-fold, respectively. Gramicidin fails to accelerate the A23187-induced cell shrinkage, indicating that the Cl- conductance is rate limiting. An A23187-induced activation of 42K and 36Cl tracer fluxes is directly demonstrated. RVD and the A23187-induced cell shrinkage both are: inhibited by quinine which blocks the Ca2+-activated K+ channel, unaffected by substitution of NO-3 or SCN- for Cl-, and inhibited by the anti-calmodulin drug pimozide. When the K+ channel is blocked by quinine but bypassed by addition of gramicidin, the rate of cell shrinkage can be used to monitor the Cl- conductance. The Cl- conductance is increased about 60-fold during RVD. The volume-induced activation of the Cl- transport pathway is transient, with inactivation within about 10 min. The activation induced by ionophore A23187 in Ca2+-free media (probably by release of Ca2+ from internal stores) is also transient, whereas the activation is persistent in Ca2+-containing media. In the latter case, addition of excess EGTA is followed by inactivation of the Cl- transport pathway. These findings suggest that a transient increase in free cytosolic Ca2+ may account for the transient activation of the Cl- transport pathway. The activated anion transport pathway is unselective, carrying both Cl-, Br-, NO-3, and SCN-. The anti-calmodulin drug pimozide blocks the volume- or A23187-induced Cl- transport pathway and also blocks the activation of the K+ transport pathway. This is demonstrated directly by 42K flux experiments and indirectly in media where the dominating anion (SCN-) has a high ground permeability. A comparison of the A23187-induced K+ conductance estimated from 42K flux measurements at high external K+, and from net K+ flux measurements suggests single-file behavior of the Ca2+-activated K+ channel. The number of Ca2+-activated K+ channels is estimated at about 100 per cell.

Effects of Ca2+ and furosemide on Cl- transport and O2 uptake in rat parotid acini

Stimulation-induced changes in Cl- content and O2 consumption of collagenase-isolated rat parotid acini were measured. In less than 10 s, carbachol caused a net Cl- efflux, corresponding to approximately 50% of the Cl- content, and increased the O2 uptake by 100%. The increase was inhibitable by ouabain and was dependent on the presence of extracellular Ca2+. Furosemide reduced the unstimulated 36Cl- uptake and prevented the reuptake of Cl- after carbachol-induced release. This suggests that a cotransport system is operating in both the unstimulated and stimulated states. Furthermore, furosemide inhibited the stimulated ouabain-sensitive O2 uptake. Raising intracellular Ca2+ by the calcium ionophore A23187 evoked the same pattern of Cl- loss and O2 uptake as carbachol. Our results are compatible with the following hypothesis. Carbachol raises intracellular Ca2+, causing an increased Cl- permeability of the luminal membrane, resulting in a net Cl- efflux. A subsequently enhanced influx of Cl- and Na+ via a furosemide-sensitive cotransport system increases intracellular Na+. This stimulates the Na+-K+-ATPase and thereby the O2 consumption.

Analysis of structural changes during hypotonic swelling in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells

Studies were undertaken to quantify structural changes associated with swelling of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in hypotonic medium. Cells transferred from isotonic (294 mosmol/kg H2O) to hypotonic (98 mosmol/kg H2O) medium swelled rapidly. Subsequently, approximately 40% of the water initially gained was lost, a phenomenon referred to as volume-regulatory decrease (VRD). During the initial rapid cell swelling, blister-like protrusions or blebs were formed on the cell surface. These blebs were examined by routine light microscopy, differential interference-contrast (DIC) microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Microscopic observations and the distribution of ATPase antibodies indicated that the blebs were formed from plasma membrane. During VRD, the blebs coalesced to form a smooth but expanded membrane surface that appeared to be separated from the original cytoplasm by a layer of less dense ground substance. Computer-assisted morphometry from digitized DIC images of the initial swelling phase indicated that all of the volume gained was sequestered in the blebs. We suggest that bleb formation may allow increases in cell volume without disruption of cytoplasmic organization and may be a protective response to a variety of stressful stimuli. The subsequent VRD is accompanied by reduction of this expanded compartment.

Anion transport systems in the plasma membrane of vertebrate cells

In the case of the red blood cell, anion transport is a highly specific one-for-one exchange catalyzed by a major membrane protein known as band 3 or as capnophorin. This red cell anion-exchange system mediates the Cl-(-)HCO3- exchange responsible for most of the bicarbonate transport capacity of the blood. The rapidly expanding knowledge of the molecular biology and the transport kinetics of this specialized transport system is very briefly reviewed in Section III. Exchange diffusion mechanisms for anions are found in many cells other than erythrocytes. The exchange diffusion system in Ehrlich cells has several similarities to that in red cells. In several cell types (subsection IV-B), there is evidence that intracellular pH regulation depends on Cl-(-)HCO3- exchange processes. Anion exchange in other single cells is described in Section IV, and its role in pH regulation is described in Section VII. Anion exchange mechanism operating in parallel with, and only functionally linked to Na+-H+ or K+-H+ exchange mechanisms can also play a role in cell volume regulation as described in Section VII. In the Ehrlich ascites cell and other vertebrate cells, electroneutral anion transfer has been found to occur also by a cotransport system for cations and chloride operating in parallel with the exchange diffusion system. The cotransport system is capable of mediating secondary active chloride influx. In avian red cells, the cotransport system has been shown to be activated by adrenergic agonists and by cyclic AMP, suggesting that the cotransport is involved in regulatory processes (see subsection V-A.). In several cell types, cotransport systems are activated and play a role during volume regulation, as described in Section V and in Section VII. It is also likely that this secondary active cotransport of chloride plays a significant role for the apparently active extrusion of acid equivalents from certain cells. If a continuous influx of chloride against an electrochemical gradient is maintained by a cotransport system, the chloride disequilibrium can drive an influx of bicarbonate through the anion exchange mechanism, as described in Section VII. Finally, even the electrodiffusion of anions is shown to be regulated, and in Ehrlich cells and human lymphocytes an activation of the anion diffusion pathway plays a major role in cell volume regulation as described in Section VI and subsection VII-B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Taurine transport associated with cell volume regulation in flounder erythrocytes under anisosmotic conditions

The taurine transport of flounder erythrocytes is associated with a cell volume regulation in anisosmotic media. An osmolality reduction leads to a cell volume increase, which is followed by a volume readajustment towards the original level. A 75 mosM reduction is accompanied by a 33 mumol g dry wt.-1 reduction in the cellular taurine content. The reduction in osmolality activates the taurine release mechanism by transiently increasing the rate coefficient for taurine efflux. The rate coefficient for taurine influx is similarly stimulated. This influx is mediated by a Na+-independent transport system. The concomitant activation of influx and efflux suggests a coupling between these two systems. Higher taurine efflux and influx rate coefficients which decayed more slowly with time were measured in cells suspended in Na+-free (choline replacement) media than in the presence of Na+. This suggests that Na+ may play a role in the taurine release mechanism. Noradrenaline induced a cellular swelling at normal osmolality (330 mosM), but had only a minor effect on the taurine efflux and influx and the cellular taurine content. Urea-induced cellular swelling at normal osmolality initiated a volume regulatory process and activated the taurine release mechanism, similarly to an osmolality reduction. These results show that osmolality reduction and cellular swelling are no prerequisites for the activation of the taurine release mechanism and the cell volume readajustment. It is suggested that the dimension of an intracellular solute compartment determines the activation level of this mechanism.

The number of chloride-cation cotransport sites on Ehrlich ascites cells measured with [3H]bumetanide

Simultaneous measurements were made of net Cl influxes and [3H]bumetanide binding to Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in which the chloride-cation cotransport pathway had been activated by hypertonic challenge. There was a good linear correlation between inhibition of Cl influx during regulatory volume increase and numbers of bumetanide molecules bound per cell, consistent with high specificity of bumetanide binding to cotransport sites. The extrapolation to the number of bumetanide binding sites per cell at maximal inhibition of Cl transport thus gives the number of cotransport sites per cell as 2.0 X 10(6). From this, and the fluxes measured (not necessarily maximum fluxes), the turnover number is calculated at 50 Cl ions per site per second. Unstimulated cells in isotonic medium, with negligible bumetanide-inhibitable fluxes, have the same number of bumetanide binding sites as the activated cells undergoing volume regulation.

Modulation of salt permeabilities of intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles by micromolar levels of internal calcium

A possible modulation of ion permeabilities of rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles by Ca2+, a putative second messenger of salt secretion, was explored by three independent methods: (1) measurements of [3H]glucose accumulation driven by a Na+ gradient; (2) stopped-flow spectrophotometry of salt-induced osmotic swelling; (3) 86Rb+, 22Na+ and 36Cl- flux measurements. Cytoskeleton-deprived membrane vesicles were prepared from isolated brushborders by thiocyanate treatment. Intravescicular Ca2+ levels were varied by preincubating vesicles in Ca-EGTA buffers in the presence of the Ca2+-ionophore A23187. At Ca2+free greater than 10(-5) M, initial Na+-dependent glucose uptake in the presence of a 0.1 M NaSCN gradient (but not in its absence) was inhibited by about 50 per cent as compared to EGTA alone (ED50 approximately equal to 10(-6) M Ca2+). By contrast, initial rates of 22Na+ uptake and reswelling rates of vesicles exposed to a NaSCN gradient were increased at least 2-fold by 10(-5) M Ca2+free. Both observations are compatible with a Ca2+-induced increase of the Na+-permeability of the vesicle membrane. The modulation of ion transport was fully reversible and critically dependent on internal Ca2+, suggesting a localization of Ca2+-sensor sites at the inner surface of the microvillous membrane. As shown by radiotracer and osmotic swelling measurements, micromolar Ca2+ additionally increased the flux rate of K+, Rb+, Cl- and NO-3 but did not change the membrane permeability for small uncharged molecules, including glucose and mannitol. The effect of Ca2+ on ion permeabilities could be blocked by Ba2+ (10(-3) M) or Mg2+ (10(-2) M), but not by amiloride (10(-3) M), apamin (2 X 10(-7) M), trifluoperazine (10(-4) M) or quinine (5 X 10(-4) M). At present it is unclear whether Ca2+ activates a nonselective cation and anion channel or multiple highly selective channels in the vesicle membrane.

Calcium-dependent anion channel in the water mold, Blastocladiella emersonii

Injection of depolarizing current into vegetative cells of the water mold Blastocladiella emersonii elicits a regenerative response that has the electrical characteristics of an action potential. Once they have been taken past a threshold of about -40 mV, cells abruptly depolarize to +20 mV or above; after an interval ranging from several hundred milliseconds to a few seconds, the cells spontaneously return to their resting potential near -100 mV. When the action potential was analyzed with voltage-clamp recording, it proved to be biphasic. The initial phase reflects an influx of calcium ions through voltage-sensitive channels that also carry Sr2+ ions. The delayed, and more extended, phase of inward current results from the efflux of chloride and other anions. The anion channels are broadly selective, passing chloride, nitrate, phosphate, acetate, succinate and even PIPES. The anion channels open in response to the entry of calcium ions, but do not recognize Sr2+. Calcium channels, anion channels and calcium-specific receptors that link the two channels appear to form an ensemble whose physiological function is not known. Action potentials rarely occur spontaneously but can be elicited by osmotic downshock, suggesting that the ion channels may be involved in the regulation of turgor.

IgE-mediated degranulation of mast cells does not require opening of ion channels

Rat peritoneal mast cells respond to antigenic stimulation by releasing histamine through exocytosis. The dynamics of exocytosis can be investigated by dialysing single cells with patch pipettes using the whole-cell recording configuration of the patch-clamp technique. However, dialysed cells fail to respond to external stimuli such as compound 48/80 or antigens, suggesting that essential cytoplasmic components have been washed out. We have developed a new patch-clamp configuration in which the patch under the pipette tip is not disrupted but instead permeabilized, preventing the diffusion of large molecules out of the cell. In this configuration the cell responds to external stimulation, and the capacitance as well as the conductance of the cell membrane can be recorded during degranulation. On antigenic stimulation, the cell capacitance (proportional to plasma membrane area), after an initial delay, increases by a factor of about 3. This increase in capacitance is often preceded by a transient increase in conductance. Agents that block Ca-activated channels inhibit this conductance change without affecting the amplitude and time course of degranulation. We therefore conclude that, in contrast to excitable secretory cells such as chromaffin cells, mast cells do not use ion channels in stimulus-secretion coupling.