Proton pump activity is required for active uptake of chloride in isolated amphibian skin exposed to freshwater

    18 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Net proton secretion and unidirectional chloride fluxes were measured in isolated skin of toads (Bufo bufo) and frogs (Rana esculenta) mounted in an Ussing chamber and exposed to a Ringer's solution on the serosal side and a freshwater-like solution (1-3 mM Cl-) on the external side. Active proton secretion was 34.2-2.0 pmol·cm-2·s-1 (n=18) in frog skin, and 16.7-1.7 pmol·cm-2·s-1 (n=10) in toad skin. Proton secretion by toad skin was dependent on the transepithelial potential (VT), and an amiloride-insensitive short-circuit current was stimulated by exogenous CO2/HCO3-, indicating the presence of a rheogenic proton pump. Cl- influx was 37.4-7.5 pmol·cm-2·s-1 (n=14) in frog skin and 19.5-3.5 pmol·cm-2·s-1 (n=11) in toad skin. In toad skin, the mean Cl- flux ratio was larger than expected for simple electro-diffusion. In 8 of 11 sets of paired skins, influx was greater than the efflux indicating active uptake of Cl-. Cl- influx in toad skin was unaffected by large perturbations (100-150 mV) of VT, which was accomplished by adding amiloride to the outer bath under open circuit conditions. A component of the Cl- efflux seemed to be dependent on VT. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS; 0.3 mM or 1.3 mM) inhibited Cl- influx and, surprisingly, increased Cl- efflux in toad skin. Influx and efflux of Cl- in toad skin were highly dependent on the external [Cl-] in the freshwater range (0.1-4 mM). 36Cl- influx decreased whereas the total Cl- efflux increased as a function of external [Cl-]. These data indicate the presence of a DIDS-sensitive, electroneutral carrier mechanism with an external binding site for Cl-. Ethoxzolamide (100 µM), an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase, reduced proton secretion and Cl- influx in frog skin. Concanamycin A (0.1-10 µM), a specific vacuolar-type proton pump (V-ATPase) inhibitor, significantly reduced proton secretion in frog skin. In addition, concanamycin A (1 µM) significantly reduced Cl- influx in frog skin. We suggest that the active proton secretion and Cl- influx are coupled. We hypothesise that an apical V-ATPase is capable of energising active Cl- uptake in fresh water by creating a favourable gradient for an apical HCO3- exit in exchange for external Cl-. The data also suggest that a carbonic anhydrase activity provides H+ and HCO3- for apically co-expressed proton pumps and Cl-/HCO3- exchangers.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology
    Volume172
    Pages (from-to)503-511
    ISSN0174-1578
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2002

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