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Ionic mechanism of ouabain-induced swelling of leech Retzius neurons

  • Cell and molecular physiology
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Abstract

By using electrophysiological and microfluorimetric methods, we found that leech Retzius neurons swell after inhibition of the Na+–K+ pump by the cardiac glycoside ouabain. To explore the mechanism of this swelling, we measured the effect of ouabain on [Na+]i, [K+]i, and [Cl−]i, as well as on the membrane potential, by applying triple-barrelled ion-sensitive microelectrodes. As shown previously, ouabain induced a marked [Na+]i increase, a [K+]i decrease, and a membrane depolarization, and it also evoked an increase in [Cl−]i. The analysis of the data revealed a net uptake of NaCl, which quantitatively explained the ouabain-induced cell swelling. In the absence of extracellular Na+ or Cl−, NaCl uptake was excluded, and the cell volume remained unaffected. Likewise, NaCl uptake and, hence, cell swelling did not occur when the Na+–K+ pump was inhibited by omitting bath K+. Also, in K+-free solution, [Na+]i increased and [K+]i dropped, but [Cl−]i slightly decreased, and after an initial, small membrane depolarization, the cells hyperpolarized for a prolonged period. It is concluded that the ouabain-induced NaCl uptake is caused by the depolarization of the plasma membrane, which augments the inwardly directed electrochemical Cl− gradient.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the DFG Graduiertenkolleg “Pathophysiologische Prozesse im Gehirn: vom Gen zum Verhalten.”

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  1. Institut für Neurobiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Universitätsstr. 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Paul Wilhelm Dierkes, Hans Joachim Wüsten, Guido Klees, Anja Müller & Peter Hochstrate

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  1. Paul Wilhelm Dierkes
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  2. Hans Joachim Wüsten
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  3. Guido Klees
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  4. Anja Müller
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  5. Peter Hochstrate
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Correspondence to Paul Wilhelm Dierkes.

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Dierkes, P.W., Wüsten, H.J., Klees, G. et al. Ionic mechanism of ouabain-induced swelling of leech Retzius neurons. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 452, 25–35 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-0009-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-005-0009-6

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