Summary
Ion-sensitive glass microelectrodes, conventional microelectrodes and isotope flux measurements were employed inNecturus gallbladder epithelium to study intracellular sodium activity, [Na] i , electrical parameters of epithelial cells, and properties of active sodium transport. Mean control values were: [Na] i : 9.2 to 12.1mm; transepithelial potential difference,Ψ ms : −1.5 mV (lumen negative); basolateral cell membrane potential,Ψ es : −62 mV (cell interior negative); sodium conductance of the luminal cell membrane,g Na: 12 μmho cm−2; active transcellular sodium flux, 88 to 101 pmol cm−2 sec−1 (estimated as instantaneous short-circuit current). Replacement of luminal Na by K led to a decrease of the intracellular sodium activity at a rate commensurate to the rate of active sodium extrusion across the basolateral cell membrane. Mucosal application of amphotericin B resulted in an increase of the luminal membrane conductance, a rise of intracellular sodium activity, and an increase of short-circuit current and unidirectional mucosa to serosa sodium flux. Conclusions: (i) sodium transport across the basolateral membrane can proceed against a steeper chemical potential difference at a higher rate than encountered under control conditions; (ii) the luminal Na-conductance is too low to accommodate sodium influx at the rate of active basolateral sodium extrusion, suggesting involvement of an electrically silent luminal transport mechanism; (iii) sodium entry across the luminal membrane is the rate-limiting step of transcellular sodium transport and active sodium extrusion across the basolateral cell membrane is not saturated under control conditions.
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Graf, J., Giebisch, G. Intracellular sodium activity and sodium transport inNecturus gallbladder epithelium. J. Membrain Biol. 47, 327–355 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869743
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01869743