Influence of external K+ on potassium efflux in isolated chicken enterocytes

Intracellular pH regulation in cecal epithelial cells from the chick

Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation has been investigated in cells isolated from the proximal ceca of the chicken. pHi was measured with the pH-sensitive dye, 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5 (6)-carboxyfluorescein in nominally HCO(3-)-free solutions. Under resting conditions the pHi was 7.08. Removal of extracellular Na+ decreased pHi by approx. 0.24 pH units and the subsequent addition of Na+ increased pHi towards the control value. This Na(+)-dependent pHi recovery was inhibited by 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA). Following an intracellular acidification, by abrupt withdrawal of NH4Cl, pHi alkalinized in the nominally absence of Na+. Rotenone, N-ethylmaleimide, N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, 4-chloro-7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole, iodoacetic acid and SCH 28080 inhibited the Na(+)-independent pHi recovery rate by 82, 82, 67, 74, 77 and 50% respectively. Bafilomycin A1 was without effect. Na(+)-independent cell alkalization was stimulated by external K+. In the presence of N-ethylmaleimide addition of Na+ induced a rapid pHi recovery. The initial rate of this recovery exhibited first-order dependence on Na+ concentration and it was inhibited by EIPA. The initial rate of Na(+)-dependent cell alkalization increased with a Hill coefficient greater than one when pHi was reduced from 7.2 to 6.2. The 'set point' for the exchanger is approx. 7.5. These studies demonstrate that in cecal epithelial cells exist at least two mechanisms for proton secretion: a Na(+)-H+ exchanger and a Na(+)-independent proton transport system.

Effect of external potassium concentration on potassium uptake and potassium permeability of chicken enterocytes

1. The effects of external potassium concentration on potassium uptake and potassium permeability have been investigated in isolated chicken enterocytes. 2. Ouabain-sensitive K+ uptake exhibited simple saturation kinetics with an apparent affinity constant, KT, of approximately, 1 mM K+. In the presence of ouabain, K+ uptake relates linearly with its external concentration, and the apparent diffusion constant, KD, was 1.3 nmol mg-1 protein mM-1 min-1. 3. Membrane potential, evaluated from the transmembrane TPP+ distribution ratio, was lower than the potassium equilibrium potential. 4. Estimated potassium permeability is decreased by low external potassium concentration and unaffected by high external potassium concentration.