Induction of transporting sites in a sodium transporting epithelium

Epithelial Na + Channels Function as Extracellular Sensors

The epithelial Na + channel (ENaC) resides on the apical surfaces of specific epithelia in vertebrates and plays a critical role in extracellular fluid homeostasis. Evidence that ENaC senses the external environment emerged well before the molecular identity of the channel was reported three decades ago. This article discusses progress toward elucidating the mechanisms through which specific external factors regulate ENaC function, highlighting insights gained from structural studies of ENaC and related family members. It also reviews our understanding of the role of ENaC regulation by the extracellular environment in physiology and disease. After familiarizing the reader with the channel's physiological roles and structure, we describe the central role protein allostery plays in ENaC's sensitivity to the external environment. We then discuss each of the extracellular factors that directly regulate the channel: proteases, cations and anions, shear stress, and other regulators specific to particular extracellular compartments. For each regulator, we discuss the initial observations that led to discovery, studies investigating molecular mechanism, and the physiological and pathophysiological implications of regulation. © 2024 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 14:5407-5447, 2024.

Role of basolateral membrane conductance in the regulation of transepithelial sodium transport across frog skin

Circuit analyses of the principal cell compartment of frog skin ( Rana temporaria and R. esculenta) were made using microelectrode measurements under short-circuit conditions and with the aid of the Na(+) channel blocker amiloride. Under control conditions, intracellular potential ranged between -65 and -5 mV, and the conductances of the apical and basolateral membranes were related directly to the short-circuit current and inversely to the cellular potential. Blockade of apical Na(+) uptake by amiloride hyperpolarized the cells to nearly the same value, irrespective of the potential under transporting conditions. Under these conditions, basolateral membrane conductance increased greatly, which led to paradoxical reactions of the transepithelial Na(+) transport at lower concentrations of amiloride. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration of amiloride estimated from the response of the apical membrane conductance (99+/-10 nM) was about 5 times lower than the value derived from transepithelial current or conductance in the same tissues. The results are discussed in the context of the importance of the membrane potential for acute control of membrane conductance and transepithelial transport.

Complex response of epithelial cells to inhibition of Na+ transport by amiloride

When toad urinary bladder or frog skin epithelia are treated with amiloride, short-circuit current (Isc), which represents the net active transepithelial Na+ transport rate from the apical to basolateral surface, decreases rapidly (2-5 s) to approximately 15-20% of control values and then slowly, over several minutes, continues falling toward zero. The contribution of this second phase of the decline is dependent on the transporting condition of the tissue before administration of amiloride. Attenuation of the second phase was observed if tissues were subjected to a period of transport inhibition. Tissues preincubated in 0 Na+ Ringer solution on the apical surface were returned to control Na+ Ringer, which caused an approximately 25% increase of Isc above control values. Immediate reapplication of amiloride caused Isc to decrease more rapidly than the previous exposure to values near zero, substantially reducing or eliminating the secondary slow decline. After long-term reincubation of tissues in control, 100 mM Na+ solution, another treatment with amiloride indicated that the magnitude of the secondary decline increased in frog skin but not in urinary bladder epithelia. We conclude that the effect of amiloride is complex and may cause additional effects besides simply blocking entry of Na+ into the apical membrane channel, and we suggest that regulatory mechanisms may be invoked in response to transport inhibition.

The role of amiloride-blockable sodium transport in adrenaline-induced lung liquid reabsorption in the fetal lamb

Adrenaline was infused intravenously at rates of 0.1-1.0 microgram/min into chronically catheterized fetal lambs (125-141 days gestation) to induce slowing of secretion or reabsorption of lung liquid. There was an electrical potential difference (p.d.) of -0.3 to -9.5 mV (mean -3.4 mV) between lung liquid and plasma (lung liquid negative) during control lung liquid secretion. In response to adrenaline infusion, the p.d. increased (lung lumen more negative) and this change was greatest (1.8 +/- 0.3 mV) in experiments in which reabsorption occurred. Measurements were made of bidirectional fluxes of Na+ and Cl- across the pulmonary epithelium during control lung liquid secretion and during adrenaline infusion. Adrenaline-induced reabsorption of lung liquid was associated with an increase in Na+ flux from lung lumen to plasma. Similar but smaller changes occurred when the adrenaline response was slowing of secretion. The difference between measured flux ratios and those predicted from the forces determining passive flux provided evidence for active transport of Cl- from plasma to lung lumen, as previously demonstrated by Olver & Strang (1974). When adrenaline was infused, there was evidence of active Na+ transport in the direction lung lumen to plasma and an associated decrease in active Cl- transport in the opposite direction. These changes were greatest when the response to adrenaline was reabsorption. Amiloride, when mixed into the lung liquid to give a calculated concentration of 10(-4) M, abolished the changes in p.d. and ion flux induced by adrenaline. In experiments using amiloride concentrations between 10(-8) and 10(-4) M it was shown that 50% inhibition of the reabsorptive response to adrenaline (KI) was induced by 4 X 10(-6) M-amiloride in the lung lumen. Thus adrenaline-induced slowing of secretion or reabsorption of lung liquid is mediated by active Na+ transport from lung lumen to plasma and depends on amiloride-inhibitable Na+ channels on the luminal surface of the pulmonary epithelium.

Ca2+-sensitive, spontaneously fluctuating, cation channels in the apical membrane of the adult frog skin epithelium

The fluctuations in transepithelial current through the abdominal skin of bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) were analysed while the transepithelial voltage was clamped to zero. A Lorentzian component in the power spectrum was recorded when the skin was bathed with Ca2+ free NaCl Ringer's on both sides. After replacement of all mucosal Na+ by choline the Lorentzian component disappeared. The application of mucosa positive potentials enhanced the plateau of the relaxation noise component while it was depressed by mucosa negative potentials. These observations showed that the current associated with the relaxation noise, was carried by Na+ moving in the inward direction. Divalent cations added to the mucosal solution in micromolar concentrations depressed the relaxation noise immediately, which is indicative for an apical localization of the fluctuating channels. The relaxation noise depended strongly on the pH of the mucosal medium: alkalinization enhanced the relaxation noise while acidification depressed the fluctuations. Micromolar concentrations of the diuretic amiloride, which is known to block the Na+ entry into the cellular compartment, enhanced the Na+-dependent relaxation noise while at higher concentrations an inhibitory effect was observed. From these observations it was concluded that the relaxation noise is caused by inward Na+ movement through fluctuating channels which are localized in the apical membrane. These channels seem to constitute a pathway in parallel with the amiloride-blockable channels. Ionic substitution of Na+ by other monovalent cations showed that these channels are also permeable for K+, Rb+, NH4+, Cs+ and Tl+, but not for Li+. Divalent cations in micromolar concentrations completely occlude these fluctuating channels. Therefore, this pathway will be blocked for monovalent cations when normal Ca2+ containing Ringer's are used as mucosal bathing medium.

Evidence for an amiloride sensitive Na+ pathway in the amphibian diluting segment induced by K+ adaptation

The effect of amiloride on cell membrane potentials and intracellular Na activity (Nai) was tested in early distal tubules of the isolated perfused kidney of control and of K-adapted (high-K diet) Amphiuma. Conventional and Na-sensitive liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes were employed to measure the peritubular cell membrane potential (PDpt), the transepithelial potential difference (PDte) and the Na electrochemical gradient across the peritubular cell membrane (ENapt), in the absence and the presence of amiloride (1 X 10(-4) mol X 1(-1] in both groups of animals. Amiloride did not affect PDpt and ENapt in control animals but depolarized PDpt and ENapt by about 8 mV in K-adapted animals. Nai (11.0 +/- 0.6 mmol X 1(-1) in early distal cells of control animals) did not change significantly by this maneuver. However, Nai decreased to extremely low values (2.3 +/- 0.2 mmol X 1(-1] when the luminal cotransport system for Na, Cl and K was inhibited by the luminal application of furosemide (5 X 10(-5) mol/l) and when the luminal cell membrane was exposed simultaneously to amiloride. The amiloride-induced effects on PDpt, ENapt and Nai occurred within seconds and were fully reversible. We conclude that high-K diet (K adaptation) induces an amiloride-sensitive pathway in the luminal cell membrane of early distal cells of Amphiuma which exists in parallel with the furosemide-sensitive cotransport system located in this cell barrier. The results suggest a luminal amiloride-sensitive Na/H exchange mechanism which regulates the luminal K permeability.

Chemical stimulation of Na transport through amiloride-blockable channels of frog skin epithelium

The stimulation of apical Na permeability caused by a number of reagents effective from the outer side of the membrane was investigated by fluctuation analysis. In the epidermis of R. ridibunda, parachloromercuriphenyl sulfonate (PCMPS) and benzimidazolyl guanidine (BIG) increase the number (N0) of conducting Na channels by releasing channels from Na self-inhibition. As a consequence, the apparent macroscopic affinity for amiloride is increased. 5-dimethyl amiloride and trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS) also cause reversible stimulation by increasing N0; here release from self-inhibition is less clear. With each of the four stimulators investigated, the Na channel current remained unaffected or was only marginally increased. In addition to its stimulatory effect, TNBS caused irreversible blockage of Na channels. Apart from their stimulatory effects, BIG and 5-dimethyl amiloride, both of which have a side-chain terminated with an amidino group, are high rate-blocking competitors of amiloride.

Inhibition of amiloride-sensitive sodium conductance by indoleamines

To examine a possible role of indoleamines in the regulation of epithelial sodium absorption, the effect of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and several derivatives on electrolyte transport was measured in vitro in the baboon bronchus and in the trachea and colon of sodium-deficient rats. Serotonin, melatonin (N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine), and harmaline (1-methyl-7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-beta-carboline) inhibited sodium transport in all three preparations in a similar manner to the natriuretic agent amiloride. In all three epithelia, sodium absorption via the amiloride-sensitive pathway constitutes a substantial portion of total electrolyte transport, measured as the amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current. Thus 25 microM amiloride inhibited the short-circuit current 21% in the rat trachea, 63% in the baboon bronchus, and 90% in the rat colon. Serotonin, melatonin, and harmaline inhibited the amiloride-sensitive portion of the short-circuit current from the luminal side of the epithelium. The inhibition was rapid, requiring only seconds, and maximal inhibition by serotonin was identical to that by amiloride. When sodium was omitted from the luminal solution, the short-circuit current was reduced a similar amount, suggesting that sodium absorption was being inhibited by both amiloride and the indoles. The IC50 value for amiloride was 50 nM in the baboon bronchus and 500 nM in the rat colon. In contrast, the IC50 value for serotonin was 0.4 mM in the baboon bronchus and 8 mM in the rat colon. These results, together with the wide distribution of amine-precursor-uptake-and-decarboxylation (APUD) cells in the respiratory and intestinal tract, suggest that certain indoleamines could play a role as local regulators of fluid and electrolyte transport. For example, in the airways, indoleamines may be one of the factors involved in regulation of the depth of the periciliary fluid layer.

Estimation of the density of sodium entry sites in frog skin epithelium from the uptake of [3H]benzamil

1. The inhibition of short circuit current in frog skin by benzamil (N-benzyl-amidino-3,5-diamino-6-chloropyrazine carboxamide) was investigated. When skins were bathed on both sides by Ringer solution (pH 7.6) the affinity was 5 x 10(7) M-1. When the sodium concentration was reduced to 1.1 mM and the pH adjusted to 6.5 the affinity increased to 8.5 x 10(8) M-1. 2. A method is described for measuring uptake of [3H]benzamil into the mucosal (outer) surface of pieces of isolated epithelium, 0.95 cm2 in area, under open circuit conditions. 3. The relation of [3H]benzamil uptake at the mucosal surface to its concentration was measured in solutions containing 1.1 mM-sodium and adjusted to pH 6.5. Uptake could be resolved into a linear component (10.2 f-mole nM-1) and a saturable component (21.5 f-mole cm-2) with a half saturating concentration of 1 nM. 4. In the presence of amiloride (1 microM) or unlabelled benzamil (1 microM) uptake was linear with concentration, and was, respectively, 9.2 f-mole nM-1 and 8.8 f-mole nM-1. When the pH was reduced to 3.5 uptake was again linear but reduced to 3.3 f-mole nM-1. 5. The identity of the saturable component of [3H]benzamil uptake to sodium entry sites is discussed. The results suggest a sodium entry site density of around 130 micron-2 of mucosal surface.

Does intracellular sodium regulate sodium transport across the mucosal surface of frog skin?

A method has been devised to functionally remove the serosal membrane of frog skin. Skins treated in this way have no spontaneous potential. However, if sodium gradients are placed across the tissues diffusion potentials and hence short-circuit currents of either sign, depending on the direction of the gradient, could be recorded. These short-circuit currents were completely imhibited by amiloride only from the mucosal face. However, the concentration of amiloride causing 50% inhibition of the short-circuit curent (Km) in treated skins was 2.3 . 10(-3)M, when a sodium gradient was applied from serosa to mucosa, whereas both in untreated skins without a sodium gradient and in treated skins with a mucosal to serosal sodium gradient, the Km of amiloride was 2 . 10(-7)-4 . 10(-7)M. The mechanism by which amiloride is able to inhibit the short-circuit currents of either sign is discussed.

Effects of some pyrazinecarboxamides on sodium transport in frog skin

1 The inhibitory effect of amiloride (N-amidino-3,5-diamino-6-chloropyrazinecarboxamide) on sodium transport in isolated skin of frog has been compared with 17 of its analogues. The dissociation constant of amiloride for passive sodium channels was 181.9 +/- 8.9 nM, and the maximal percentage inhibition of sodium transport was 101.3 +/- 0.4% (means of 123 measurements) when measured at a sodium concentration of 111 mM. 2 The N-benzylamidino and N-o-chlorobenzylamidino compounds had affinities approximately 20 times larger than those for amiloride, and produced maximal inhibition of transport. 3 Substitution of chlorine in the 6-position by other halogens showed that the bromo-compound was equally active to amiloride, whereas the iodo derivative had an affinity equal to 15% of that for amiloride. 4 Substitution in the 5-amino group in 10 compounds reduced the affinities to less than 1% of that of amiloride, without affecting their ability to produce complete inhibition of transport. 5 N-Amidino-3,5-diaminopyrazinecarboxamide was unique in that it produced an unusual concentration-response relationship.

Interdependence of the two borders in a sodium transporting epithelium. Possible regulation by the transport pool

Specific binding of 14C-amiloride to the mucosal surface of frog skin epithelium (Rana temporaria) has been used as a measure of the number of sodium entry sites. All binding measurements were made with the mucosal surface bathed in a solution containing 1.1 mM sodium. When manipulations were used which increased the intracellular concentration of sodium the amount of amiloride bound was reduced. The manipulations included flushing the mucosal surface with solutions containing 111 mM sodium after serosal efflux was inhibited with ouabain or potassium removal. Similar results were obtained when cells were loaded with lithium. These effects on amiloride binding did not appear to depend on changes in membrane potential or upon changes in affinity of amiloride for its binding site. It appears that inhibition of serosal sodium efflux from the epithelium causes a reduction of mucosal sodium influx by making entry sites unavailable. This latter may be a result, directly or indirectly, of the sodium concentration in the sodium transport pool.