Energetics of coupled Na+ and Cl- entry into epithelial cells of bullfrog small intestine.

Na+, K+ and Cl- concentrations (cij) and activities (aij), and mucosal membrane potentials (Em) were measured in epithelial cells of isolated bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) small intestine. Segments of intestine were stripped of their external muscle layers, and bathed (at 25 degrees C and pH 7.2) in oxygenated Ringer solutions containing 105 mM Na+ and Cl- and 5.4 mM K+. Na+ and K+ concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and Cl- concentrations by conductometric titration following extraction of the dried tissue with 0.1 M HNO3. 14C-labelled inulin was used to determine extracellular volume. Em was measured with conventional open tip microelectrodes, aiCl with solid-state Cl-selective silver microelectrodes and aiNa and aiK with Na+ and K+-selective liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes. The average Em recorded was -34mV. ciNa, ciK and ciCl were 51, 105 and 52 mM. The corresponding values for aiNa, aiK and aiCl were 18, 80 and 33 mM. These results suggest that a large fraction of the cytoplasmic Na+ is 'bound' or sequestered in an osmotically inactive form, that all, or virtually all the cytoplasmic K+ behaves as if in free solution, and that there is probably some binding of cytoplasmic Cl-. aiCl significantly exceeds the level corresponding to electrochemical equilibrium across the mucosal and baso-lateral cell membranes. Earlier studies showed that coupled mucosal entry of Na+ and Cl- is implicated in intracellular Cl- accumulation in this tissue. This study permitted estimation of the steady-state transapical Na+ and Cl- electrochemical potential differences (deltamuNa and deltamuCl). deltamuNa (-7000 J . mol-1; cell minus mucosal medium) was energetically more than sufficient to account for deltamuCl (1000--2000 J . mol-1).

Cell pH and luminal acidification in Necturus proximal tubule.

Cellular potential and pH measurements (pHi) were carried out in the perfused kidney of Necturus on proximal tubules with standard and recessed-tip glass microelectrodes under control conditions and after stimulation of tubular bicarbonate reabsorption. Luminal pH and net bicarbonate reabsorption were measured in parallel experiments with recessed-tip glass or antimony electrodes, both during stationary microperfusions as well as under conditions of isosmotic fluid transport. A mean cell pH of 7.15 was obtained in control conditions. When the luminal bicarbonate concentration was raised to 25 and 50 mM, pH, rose to 7.44 and 7.56, respectively. These changes in pHi were fully reversible. Under all conditions intracellular H+ was below electrochemical equilibrium. Thus the maintenance of intracellular pH requires "active" H+ extrusion across one or both of the cell membranes. The observed rise in pHi and the peritubular depolarization after stimulation of bicarbonate reabsorption are consistent with enhanced luminal hydrogen ion secretion and augmentation of peritubular bicarbonate exit via an anion-conductive transport pathway.

A role for endogneous prostaglandins in the short-circuit current responses to osmolal changes in isolated frog skin.

1. Reduction in osmolality of the Ringer solution bathing the morphological inside of frog skin (by lowering the NaCl concentration) caused a significant increase in sodium transport as measured by the short-circuit current. Pretreatment of the skin with acetylsalicylic acid (2.5 x 10(-4)M) abolished the short-circuit current and open-circuit potential responses to osmolal change.2. The output of prostaglandin-like material from isolated frog skin was increased by incubating the skin in hypotonic Ringer solution.3. The cyclic AMP levels of isolated frog skin were also increased by a reduction in the osmolality of the Ringer fluid bathing the skin.4. Prostaglandin-like material was released both by the separated epithelial and dermal layers of frog skin and the output from both layers, on a unit wet weight basis, did not differ.5. The output of prostaglandin-like material from the separated layers of the skin was substantially greater than from whole skin. Indomethacin (6 x 10(-6)M) reduced the output of this material by more than 90% from both layers.6. The release of prostaglandin-like material from the separated layers of the skin was not altered by a reduction in osmolality of the bathing medium.7. It is concluded that a reduction in the osmolality of the solution bathing frog skin stimulates prostaglandin production and that the increased level of prostaglandins stimulates transepithelial sodium transport by stimulating cyclic AMP accumulation. It is also concluded that the response to osmolal change can only occur in intact skin since separation of the epithelial and dermal layers abolished the increase in the release of prostaglandin-like material to osmolal change. The site of the increased prostaglandin production and the exact nature of the stimulus remain to be determined.

Endogenous prostaglandins, adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and sodium transport across isolated frog skin.

1. Sodium transport across isolated frog skin, as measured by the short-circuit current, was decreased by acetylsalicylic acid, mefenamic acid, paracetamol and phenylbutazone. Indomethacin (6 X 10(-6) M) had a biphasic effect on the short-circuit current: a transient increase followed by a sustained decrease. 2. The release of prostaglandin-like material from the skin was reduced by acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin. Paracetamol caused a significant reduction in the short-circuit current response of the skin to low doses of arachidonic acid, but the response to the highest dose tested was not significantly altered. 3. Indomethacin (6 X 10(-6) M) increased the sensitivity of the skin to applied prostaglandin E1. The other prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors did not have this effect. Indomethacin (6 X 10(-6) M) also enhanced the effect of antidiuretic hormone on the short-circuit current. 4. Indomethacin (30 X 10(-6) M) increased the short-circuit current and diminished the response to applied prostaglandin E1. 5. In sulphate Ringer, theophylline increased the short-circuit current and diminished the response to prostaglandin E1. 6. Prostaglandin E1 increased the levels of cyclic AMP in frog skin and these increases preceded the increases in short-circuit current. There was a seasonal variation in the level of cyclic AMP in the skin: the levels in winter exceeded those in summer. There was also a seasonal variation in the cyclic AMP response to prostaglandin E1: the winter response was greater than that in summer. 7. Indomethacin (6 X 10(-6) M) had a biphasic effect on cyclic AMP levels in the skin, an initial increase followed by a decrease. Indomethacin also potentiated prostaglandin E1 stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. 8. Theophylline increased cyclic AMP levels in the skin and potentiated prostaglandin E1 stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation. 9. Pre-treatment of the skin with theophylline reversed the effects of cyclic AMP on the short-circuit current and open-circuit potential. 10. It is concluded that endogenous prostaglandins help to maintain sodium transport across isolated frog skin and that the effects of E-type prostaglandins on the short-circuit current are mediated by increased cyclic AMP levels. The transient increase in short-circuit current and the increased skin sensitivity caused by indomethacin (6 X 10(-6) M) are attributed to inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity. The failure of theophylline to potentiate the short-circuit current response of the skin to prostaglandin E1 is attributed to alteration of cyclic AMP action on the skin by theophylline.