High conductance in an epithelial membrane not due to extracellular shunting

H+ transporters in the main excretory duct of the mouse mandibular salivary gland

1. We used microspectrofluorimetry with the pH-sensitive fluoroprobe 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to study the regulation of cytosolic pH (pHi) in the isolated, perfused main excretory duct of the mouse mandibular gland. 2. In nominally HCO3(-)-free solutions, removal of Na+ from the lumen alone caused pHi to decline whereas removing it from the bath alone did not. 3. Readmission of Na+ to the lumen of ducts studied under zero-Na+ conditions caused pHi to recover fully. This recovery was blocked by 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA) with a half-maximum concentration of 0.5 mumol l-1, indicating the presence of an apical Na(+)-H+ exchanger. 4. Readmission of Na+ to the bath of ducts studied under zero-Na+ conditions also caused pHi to recover. This recovery was blocked by 100 mumol l-1 EIPA, indicating the presence of a basolateral Na(+)-H+ exchanger. 5. Measurements of H+ fluxes indicated that the apical Na(+)-H+ exchanger was approximately four times more active than the basolateral Na(+)-H+ exchanger. 6. In three sets of experiments (in the absence of Na+, in the presence of Na+, and in the presence of Na+ plus 100 mumol l-1 EIPA), the effects of changing luminal K+ concentration on pHi were examined. We found no evidence for the presence of K(+)-H+ exchange or Na(+)-coupled K(+)-H+ exchange in the apical membranes of duct cells. 7. pHi recovery under nominally HCO3(-)-free conditions following acidification with an NH4Cl pulse was abolished by removal of Na+ from the bath and luminal solutions, indicating that no Na(+)-independent systems such as H(+)-ATPases were present. 8. A repeat of the above experiments in the presence of 25 mmol l-1 HCO3- plus 5% CO2 did not reveal any additional H+ transport systems. The removal of luminal Cl-, however, caused a small rise in pHi. This latter effect was blocked by 500 mumol l-1 4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (H2-DIDS), suggesting that a Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger in the apical membrane might contribute in a minor way to pHi regulation. 9. We conclude that the predominant H+ transport systems in the mouse mandibular main excretory duct are Na(+)-H+ exchangers in the apical and the basolateral membranes. The model we postulate to account for electrolyte transport across the main duct in the mouse mandibular gland is quite different from that previously developed for the rat duct but is similar to that developed for the rabbit duct. The difference is in concordance with the known ability of the mandibular gland of the rat, but not the rabbit or the mouse, to secrete a HCO3(-)-rich final saliva.

Disturbance of fluid and electrolyte transport in cystic fibrosis epithelia

Studies of the disease CF suggest that the basic defect is related to impaired electrolyte movement in the epithelia of a variety of organs with exocrine function. The disturbances of electrolyte secretion in the organs classically involved in CF range from 1) a decrease in secretion- or uptake of chloride ions in all the organs studied; 2) an increase in sodium uptake in nasal airway epithelium and 3) a decrease in bicarbonate output of the pancreas. In this review an overview is presented of the expression of the CF defect, the abnormalities of fluid and electrolyte secretion in each CF affected organ are considered in more detail with particular emphasis on the hormonal and neuronal (dys)regulation of iron transport systems in epithelial cells.

Direct demonstration of high transepithelial chloride-conductance in normal human sweat duct which is absent in cystic fibrosis

The transepithelial electrical potential difference (Vt) and the transepithelial resistance (Rt) were measured across individual microdissected sweat ducts obtained from biopsies of the scapular region of normal human volunteers and of a Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patient. During luminal and contraluminal perfusion with NaCl Ringer solution Vt and Rt were -10.7 +/- 1.1 (mV, lumen negative) and 10.9 +/- 1.7 (omega X cm2). Bilateral substitution of Cl- by gluconate increased Vt and Rt to -42.7 +/- 5.1 (mV) and 98.0 +/- 12.0 (omega X cm2), respectively. Luminal application of amiloride (10(-4) mol/l) collapsed Vt and increased Rt to 11.4 +/- 1.7 and 159.7 +/- 12.0 omega X cm2 in Cl- and gluconate Ringer respectively. These data indicate that 90% of the total transepithelial conductance is attributed to Cl- and 5% to Na+ while the remaining 5% is unaccounted for at present. In CF ducts Vt and Rt were high already in Cl- Ringer solution (-78.9 +/- 9.9 mV and 91.2 +/- 15.6 omega X cm2) and did not change significantly after replacement of Cl- by gluconate. The data demonstrate that normal human sweat duct epithelium, despite its ability to generate high electric and osmotic gradients, is a low resistance epithelium, probably because of a high Cl(-)-permeability of its cell membranes. In addition, the data demonstrate that this Cl(-)-conductance is missing in CF, in conformation of what has been postulated previously from simple potential measurements.

Electrophysiological properties of cellular and paracellular conductive pathways of the rabbit cortical collecting duct

Microelectrode techniques were applied to the rabbit isolated perfused cortical collecting duct to provide an initial quantitation and characterization of the cell membrane and tight junction conductances. Initial studies demonstrated that the fractional resistance (ratio of the resistance of the apical cell membrane to the sum of the resistances of the apical and basolateral membranes) was usually independent of the point along the tubule of microelectrode impalement--implicating little cell-to-cell coupling--supporting the application of quantitative techniques to the cortical collecting duct. It was demonstrated that in the presence of amiloride, either reduction in the luminal pH or the addition of barium to the perfusate selectively reduced the apical membrane potassium conductance. From the changes in Gte and fractional resistance upon reducing the luminal pH or addition of barium to the perfusate, the transepithelial, apical membrane, basolateral membrane and tight junction conductances were estimated to be 9.3, 6.7, 8.1 and 6.0 mS cm-2, respectively. Ninety to ninety-five percent of the apical membrane conductance reflected the barium-sensitive potassium conductance in the presence of amiloride with an estimated potassium permeability of 1.1 X 10(-4) cm sec-1. Reduction in the perfusate pH to 4.0 caused a 70% decrease in the apical membrane potassium conductance, implying a blocking site with an acidic group having a pKa near 4.4. It is concluded that both the transcellular and paracellular pathways of the cortical collecting tubule have high ionic conductances, and that the apical membrane conductance primarily reflects a high potassium conductance. Furthermore, both reduction in the perfusate pH and addition of barium to the perfusate selectively block the apical potassium channels, although the site of inhibition likely differs since the two ions display markedly different voltage-dependent blocks of the channel.

Effect of amiloride on electrolyte transport parameters of the main duct of the rabbit mandibular salivary gland

We have studied the response of the rabbit mandibular main duct perfused in vitro to luminally administered amiloride. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (KI) when the duct was bathed in Cl solutions were: for net Na+ transport, 3 X 10(-6) mol l-1; for transepithelial potential difference, 6 X 10(-6) mol l-1; and for transepithelial conductance, 3 X 10(-7) mol l-1. Substitution of the impermeant SO2-(4) anion for Cl- changed the KI for conductance to 3 X 10(-6) mol l-1. Within Cl- -containing media, the time course of the amiloride effect on potential difference showed an early rapid fall of 10 mV with a half-time 2 s, followed by a slower depolarization of 9 mV, and the conductance change followed the slower component of the potential change. In SO2-(4)-containing media, the potential difference and conductance changes followed time courses similar to one another. Finally, experiments on the effect of serosal applications of ouabain revealed that, although, in general, ouabain reduced resistance, it caused an increase in resistance in those ducts where the initial resistance was low. We conclude that: i) luminal Na+ transport occurs via amiloride-sensitive, conductive Na+ channels; ii) the Cl- conductance is the major determinant of transepithelial conductance; iii) the first phase of the potential response is due to blocking of the Na+ conductive channels, whilst the slow phase reflects secondary inhibition of an electrogenic Na+ pump; and iv) duct resistance changes are secondary to alterations in intracellular Cl- concentration.

Electrical properties of cultured epithelioid cells (MDCK)

This is a study of the intracellular electrical potential, membrane resistance, and capacity of MDCK cells (epithelioid of renal origin) cultured in monolayers on a collagen couch. These monolayers have a transepithelial resistance of 256 +/- 12 (22) ohm cm2 (mean +/- standard error, and number of observations), and the cells have 61.6 +/- 6.3 (92) M omega across their plasma membrane. The electrical capacity of the cells is 45.1 +/- 2.9 (63) pF and is much higher than expected for a cell of its size (diameter 14 micrometers, height 5 micrometers) and cannot be attributed to intercellular coupling, as no evidence of this type of connection was found in 20 pairs of neighboring cells. On the contrary, the high capacity is in keeping with previous studies using electron microscopy showing microvilli and a high degree of lateral infolding. The relationship between resistance and capacity was 1981 +/- 177 (61) omega . microF. The cells have an intracellular potential of -40.5 +/- 15 (120) mV. Yet the shape of the distribution curve suggests that the actual value may be somewhat higher (some -50 mV). The current/voltage curve of the distribution curve suggests that the actual value may be somewhat higher (some -50 mV). The current/voltage curve shows a marked asymmetry, and in some cells the voltage becomes time-dependent for large, depolarizing current pulses.

Kinetics of amiloride action in the hen coprodaeum in vitro

The kinetics of amiloride action on the isolated epithelium of the hen coprodaeum are reported. Tissues were taken from birds fed on low salt diets for 9-10 days, conditions which induce a high resting short circuit current due to sodium and sensitive to amiloride. The relation between the inhibition of amiloride sensitive short circuit current and blocker concentration obeyed simple mass laws with an apparent stoichiometry of 1:1 between amiloride and the sodium entry sites. The concentration of amiloride producing its half maximal effect (Ki) was 1.77 +/- 0.20 microM at a sodium concentration of 130 mM. There was a shallow dependence of Ki on sodium concentration, the value of Ki falling to 0.78 +/- 0.1 microM at 1.3 mM Na. The relation of Ki to Na concentration was linear indicating competitive antagonism. The sodium concentration which half saturates the amiloride site (KNa) was 80 mM. This value is very different from the concentration of sodium which half saturates SCC (Kscc = 5-7 mM) suggesting there are at least two sites at which sodium can modify the transporting characteristics. These data are compared to those for other epithelia where Kscc and KNa are rather similar. The benzyl derivative of amiloride (benzamil) was found to be 11.6 times more potent than amiloride on this tissue. The potency ration is similar to that for other sodium transporting epithelia suggesting that the structure of the ion translocation mechanism is partly conserved between species although the Ki for amiloride may vary by an order of magnitude.

Blocking by 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine of increased tight junction permeability induced by acetylcholine in the pancreas

1. The permeability of the paracellular pathway in the isolated rabbit pancreas has been studied with the aid of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine. 2. Addition of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (1--10 mM) to the bathing medium has no effect on the rate of fluid secretion or on protein, Na+, K+, Ca2+ and sucrose concentrations in the secreted fluid. 3. When 1 x 10(-5) M carbachol is also added to the 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine-containing bathing medium, there is a marked reduction in the increase of the paracellular permeability for sucrose and Ca2+ found upon addition of carbachol alone. The enzyme secretion, induced by carbachol, is not affected. 4. The minimal concentration of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine in the bathing medium required to reach its maximal effect on the paracellular permeability is approx. 0.55 mM at pH 7.4. 5. The effect of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine on the paracellular permeability after carbachol stimulation is also present when 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine is added 5 min after the addition of 1 x 10(-5) M carbachol. 6. 2,4,6-Triaminopyrimidine has no effect on the increases in enzyme secretion and sucrose permeability caused by 1 x 10(-8) pancreozymin C octapeptide. 7. 2,4,6-Triaminopyrimidine appears in the secreted fluid at a concentration of 50% of that in the bathing medium. Upon addition of 1 x 10(5) M carbachol this concentration increases up to 80%. 8. These results indicate that: (a) the increased paracellular permeability upon stimulation with carbachol is not caused by the enzyme secretion as such and (b) addition of 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine prevents the carbachol-induced increase in permeability of a channel in the tight junction complex.

Occluding junctions in a cultured transporting epithelium: structural and functional heterogeneity

MDCK cells (epithelioid of renal origin) form monolayers which are structurally and functionally similar to transporting epithelia. One of these similarities is the ability to form occluding junctions and act as permeability barriers. This article studies the junctions of MDCK monolayers formed on a permeable and transparent support (a disk of nylon cloth coated with collagen) by combining two different approaches: (i) Scanning of the electric field: the disk is mounted as a flat sheet between two Lucite chambers and pulses of 20--50 microA cm-2 are passed across. The apical surface of the monolayer is then scanned with a microelectrode to detect those points where the current is flowing. This shows that the occluding junctions of this preparation are not homogeneous, but contain long segments of high resistance, intercalated with sites of high conductance. (ii) Freeze fracture electron microscopy: the junctions are composed of regions of eight to ten strands intercalated with others where the strands are reduced to one or two ridges. The sites of high conductance may correspond to those segments where the number of junctional strands is reduced to 1 or 2. It is concluded that the occluding junctions of MDCK monolayers are functionally and morphologically heterogeneous, with "tight" regions intermixed with "leaky" ones.

Transepithelial permeability in the rabbit pancreas

1. The transepithelial permeability in the isolated rabbit pancreas has been studied with the aid of radioactive markers added to the bathing medium. 2. After addition of these compounds in 2 mM concentration to the medium, they equilibrate within 30 min to a steady-state concentration in the secreted fluid. The latter concentrations, expressed as percent of those in the bathing medium, are: urea 100%, glycerol 90%, erythritol 95%, mannitol 60%, lactose 5%, sucrose 4% and inulin 3%. 3. Addition of 10(-5) M carbachol to the bathing medium after 60 or 90 min of incubation results in an increase of the concentrations of mannitol, lactose sucrose and inulin in the secreted fluid. Maximal concentrations, reached about 35 min after addition of the stimulant, are: mannitol 65%, lactose 31%, sucrose 23%, inulin 8%. 4. No change in the concentration of urea is observed, while the concentrations of glycerol and erythritol increase always to 100% after addition of 10(-5) M carbachol. 5. For sucrose and lactose the increase in permeability appears to be dependent on the concentration of carbachol. 6. There is no increase in the extracellular space for lactose, sucrose and inulin after incubating fragments of the rabbit pancreas with 10(-5) M carbachol. 7. Addition of atropine 5 min or more after carbachol stimulation has no effect on enzyme secretion, but markedly inhibits the increase in sucrose permeability. 8. These results indicate that: (a) the permeability of the transcellular transport route in the isolated rabbit pancreas is determined by the size of the permeating molecules, (b) this route is probably extracellular, (c) its permeability is increased by a cholinergic agent in dose-dependent fashion, (d) the increase in permeability is not caused by the enzyme secretion as such.

Electrical resistance of rabbit submaxillary main duct: a tight epithelium with leaky cell membranes

The electrical resistance of rabbit salivary main duct epithelium has been measured. A small axial electrode, which passed current and measured potential simultaneously, was placed inside the ductal lumen. A cylindrical spiral was wound around the main duct and served as outside current electrode. The instantaneous current voltage relations were linearly up to current densities of 1.5 mA/cm2, independently of the Cl concentration in the bathing solutions. Strong polarization effects were observed in low Cl solutions. There was a significant inverse correlation between the spontaneous potential difference across the epithelium and the epithelial resistance in solutions with either high or low Cl concentrations. In high Cl solutions the epithelial resistance was 12.2 + 1.8 (n = 7) omegacm2. The resistance increased when the mucosal Na and Cl concentrations decreased. After addition of ouabain the resistance always decreased. The temperature dependence of the resistance was determined, and apparent activation energies were calculated. Values for activation energies ranged from 3.2 to 6.5 kcal/mol, depending on the ionic composition of the bathing solutions. Addition of amiloride to the mucosal solution led to an increase in resistance by a factor of 2.1 in high Cl solutions and of 4.1 in low Cl solutions. When ouabain was applied before amiloride, there was no effect on the resistance in high Cl solutions and a smaller increase in the resistance in low Cl solutions. The results of this study support the conclusion that the low resistance of main duct epithelium resides in the cell membranes and is not due to a paracellular pathway.