Isotonic secretion via frog skin glands in vitro. Water secretion is coupled to the secretion of sodium ions

Fluid Transport Across Leaky Epithelia: Central Role of the Tight Junction and Supporting Role of Aquaporins

The mechanism of epithelial fluid transport remains unsolved, which is partly due to inherent experimental difficulties. However, a preparation with which our laboratory works, the corneal endothelium, is a simple leaky secretory epithelium in which we have made some experimental and theoretical headway. As we have reported, transendothelial fluid movements can be generated by electrical currents as long as there is tight junction integrity. The direction of the fluid movement can be reversed by current reversal or by changing junctional electrical charges by polylysine. Residual endothelial fluid transport persists even when no anions (hence no salt) are being transported by the tissue and is only eliminated when all local recirculating electrical currents are. Aquaporin (AQP) 1 is the only AQP present in these cells, and its deletion in AQP1 null mice significantly affects cell osmotic permeability (by ∼40%) but fluid transport much less (∼20%), which militates against the presence of sizable water movements across the cell. In contrast, AQP1 null mice cells have reduced regulatory volume decrease (only 60% of control), which suggests a possible involvement of AQP1 in either the function or the expression of volume-sensitive membrane channels/transporters. A mathematical model of corneal endothelium we have developed correctly predicts experimental results only when paracellular electro-osmosis is assumed rather than transcellular local osmosis. Our evidence therefore suggests that the fluid is transported across this layer via the paracellular route by a mechanism that we attribute to electro-osmotic coupling at the junctions. From our findings we have developed a novel paradigm for this preparation that includes 1) paracellular fluid flow; 2) a crucial role for the junctions; 3) hypotonicity of the primary secretion; and 4) an AQP role in regulation rather than as a significant water pathway. These elements are remarkably similar to those proposed by the laboratory of Adrian Hill for fluid transport across other leaky epithelia.

Immunolocalization of a mammalian aquaporin 3 homolog in water-transporting epithelial cells in several organs of the clawed toad Xenopus laevis

Nucleotide sequences of cDNA were used to construct antibodies against an aquaporin (AQP) expressed in the clawed toad, Xenopus laevis, viz., Xenopus AQP3, a homolog of mammalian AQP3. Xenopus AQP3 was immunolocalized in the basolateral membrane of the principal cells of the ventral skin, the urinary bladder, the collecting duct and late distal tubule of the kidney, the absorptive epithelial cells of the large intestine, and the ciliated epithelial cells of the oviducts. Therefore, we designated this AQP as basolateral Xenopus AQP3 (AQP-x3BL). The intensity of labeling for AQP-x3BL differed between the ventral and dorsal skin, with the basolateral membrane of the principal cells in the ventral skin showing intense labeling, whereas that in the dorsal skin was lightly labeled. AQP-x3BL was also immunolocalized in the basolateral membrane of secretory cells in the small granular and mucous glands of the skin. As AQP-x5, a homolog of mammalian AQP5, is localized in the apical membrane of these same cells, this provides a pathway for fluid secretion by the glands. Although Hyla AQP-h2 is translocated from the cytoplasm to the apical membrane of the Hyla urinary bladder in response to arginine vasotocin (AVT), AQP-h2 immunoreactivity in Xenopus bladder remains in the cytoplasm and barely moves to the apical membrane, regardless of AVT stimulation. AQP-x3 is localized in the basolateral membrane, even though the AVT-stimulated AQP-h2 does not translocate to the apical membrane. These findings provide new insights into AQP function in aquatic anurans.

The Role of the Tight Junction in Paracellular Fluid Transport across Corneal Endothelium. Electro-osmosis as a Driving Force

The mechanism of epithelial fluid transport is controversial and remains unsolved. Experimental difficulties pose obstacles for work on a complex phenomenon in delicate tissues. However, the corneal endothelium is a relatively simple system to which powerful experimental tools can be applied. In recent years our laboratory has developed experimental evidence and theoretical insights that illuminate the mechanism of fluid transport across this leaky epithelium. Our evidence points to fluid being transported via the paracellular route by a mechanism requiring junctional integrity, which we attribute to electro-osmotic coupling at the junctions. Fluid movements can be produced by electrical currents. The direction of the movement can be reversed by current reversal or by changing junctional electrical charges by polylysine. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is the only AQP present in these cells, and its deletion in AQP1 null mice significantly affects cell osmotic permeability but not fluid transport, which militates against the presence of sizable water movements across the cell. By contrast, AQP1 null mice cells have reduced regulatory volume decrease (only 60% of control), which suggests a possible involvement of AQP1 in either the function or the expression of volume-sensitive membrane channels/transporters. A mathematical model of corneal endothelium predicts experimental results only when based on paracellular electro-osmosis, and not when transcellular local osmosis is assumed instead. Our experimental findings in corneal endothelium have allowed us to develop a novel paradigm for this preparation that includes: (1) paracellular fluid flow; (2) a crucial role for the junctions; (3) hypotonicity of the primary secretion; (4) an AQP role in regulation and not as a significant water pathway. These elements are remarkably similar to those proposed by the Hill laboratory for leaky epithelia.

On the mechanism of fluid transport across corneal endothelium and epithelia in general

The mechanism by which fluid is transported across epithelial layers is still unclear. The prevalent idea is that fluid traverses these layers transcellularly, driven by local osmotic gradients secondary to electrolyte transport and utilizing the high osmotic permeability of aquaporins. However, recent findings that some aquaporin knockout mice epithelia transport fluid sow doubts on local osmosis. This review discusses recent evidence in corneal endothelium that points instead to electro-osmosis as the mechanism underlying fluid transport. In this concept, a local recirculating electrical current would result in electro-osmotic coupling at the level of the intercellular junctions, dragging fluid via the paracellular route. The text also mentions possible mechanisms for apical bicarbonate exit from endothelial cells, and discusses whether electro-osmosis could be a general mechanism.

Correlation between chloride flux via the mitochondria-rich cells and transepithelial water movement in isolated frog skin (Rana esculenta)

The coupling between net transepithelial Cl- influx and net water flow was investigated. Experiments were performed on isolated frog skin bathed in isotonic Cl- Ringer's solution in the presence of the Na+ channel blocking agent amiloride in the mucosal solution. The skins were voltage-clamped at -80 or -100 mV (with the serosal solution as reference). Under these conditions the current across the skin is carried by an influx of Cl-. In the absence of antidiuretic hormone the correlation between current and net water flow was low, but in the presence of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasotocin, there was a highly significant correlation between current and net water flow. The data presented here indicate that under steady state conditions about 70 molecules of water follow each Cl- ion across the skin. If the water influx is driven by electroosmosis one would expect that a change in current should result in an immediate change in the water flow. There was, however, a considerable time delay between the change in current and water flow. This indicates that the observed coupling between Cl- flux and water flow is caused by current-induced local osmosis and not electroosmosis.

Maxi K+ channels in the basolateral membrane of the exocrine frog skin gland regulated by intracellular calcium and pH

With the single-channel patch-clamp technique we have identified Ca2+-sensitive, high-conductance (maxi) K+ channels in the basolateral membrane (BLM) of exocrine gland cells in frog skin. Under resting conditions, maxi K+ channels were normally quiescent, but they were activated by muscarinic agonists or by high serosal K+. In excised inside-out patches and with symmetrical 140mmol/l K+, single-channel conductance was 200pS and the channel exhibited a high selectivity for K+ over Na+. Depolarization of the BLM increased maxi K+ channel activity. Increasing cytosolic free Ca2+ (by addition of 100nmol/l thapsigargin to the bathing solution of cell-attached patches also increased channel activity, whereas thapsigargin had no effect when added to excised inside-out patches. An increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ directly activated channel activity in a voltage-dependent manner. Maxi K+ channel activity was sensitive to changes in intracellular pH, with maximal activity at pH 7.4 and decreasing activities following acidification and alkalinization. Maxi K+ channel outward current was reversibly blocked by micromolar concentrations of Ba2+ from the cytosolic and extracellular site, and was irreversibly blocked by micromolar concentrations of charybdotoxin and kaliotoxin from the extracellular site in outside-out patches.