U. Fröbe

Antidiuretic hormone acts via V1 receptors on intracellular calcium in the isolated perfused rabbit cortical thick ascending limb

The effect of antidiuretic hormone ([Arg]vasopressin, ADH) on intracellular calcium activity [Ca2+]i of isolated perfused rabbit cortical thick ascending limb (cTAL) segments was investigated with the calcium fluorescent dye fura-2. The fluorescence emission ratio at 500–530 nm (R) was monitored as a measure of [Ca2+]i after excitation at 335 nm and 380 nm. In addition the transepithelial potential difference (PDte) and transepithelial resistance (Rte) of the tubule were measured simultaneously. After addition of ADH (1–4 nmol/l) to the basolateral side of the cTAL R increased rapidly, but transiently, from 0.84±0.05 to 1.36±0.08 (n = 46). Subsequently, within 7–12 min R fell to control values even in the continued presence of ADH. The increase in R evoked by the ADH application corresponded to a rise of [Ca2+]i from a basal level of 155±23 nmol/l [Ca2+]i up to 429±53 nmol/l [Ca2+]i at the peak of the transient, as estimated by intra- or extracellular calibration procedures. The electrical parameters (PDte and Rte) of the tubules were not changed by ADH. The ADH-induced Ca2+ transient was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ on the basolateral side, whereas luminal Ca2+ had no effect. d(CH2)5[Tyr(Me)2]2,Arg8vasopressin, a V1 antagonist (Manning compound, 10 nmol/l), blocked the ADH effect on [Ca2+]i completely (n = 5). The V2 agonist 1-desamino-[d-Arg8]vasopressin (10 nmol/l, n=4), and the cAMP analogues, dibutyryl-cAMP (400 μmol/l, n = 4), 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (100 μmol/l, n = 1) or 8-bromo-cAMP (200 μmol/1, n = 4) had no influence on [Ca2+]i. The ADH-induced [Ca2+]i increase was not sensitive to the calcium-channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil (100 μmol/l, n = 4). We conclude that ADH acts via V1 receptors to increase cytosolic calcium activity transiently in rabbit cortical thick ascending limb segments, possibly by an initial Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and by further Ca2+ influx through Ca2+ channels in the basolateral membrane. These channels are insensitive to L-type Ca2+ channel blockers, e.g. nifedipine and verapamil.

Regulation and possible physiological role of the Ca2-dependent K+ channel of cortical collecting ducts of the rat

In the luminal membrane of rat cortical collecting duct (CCD) a big Ca2+-dependent and a small Ca2+-independent K+ channel have been described. Whereas the latter most likely is responsible for the K+ secretion in this nephron segment, the function of the large-conductance K+ channel is unknown. The regulation of this channel and its possible physiological role were examined with the conventional cell-free and the cell-attached nystatin patch-clamp techniques. Patch-clamp recordings were obtained from the luminal membrane of isolated perfused CCD segments and from freshly isolated CCD cells. Intracellular calcium was measured using the calcium-sensitive dye fura-2. The large-conductance K+ channel was strongly voltage- and calcium-dependent. At 3 μmol/l cytosolic Ca2+ activity it was half-maximally activated. At 1 mmol/l it was neither regulated by cytosolic pH nor by ATP. At 1 μmol/l Ca2+ activity the open probability (Po) of this channel was pH-dependent. At pH 7.0 Po was decreased to 4±2% (n=9) and at pH 8.5 it was increased to 425±52% (n=9) of the control. At this low Ca2+ activity the Po of the channel was reduced by 1 mmol/l ATP to 8±4% (n=6). Cell swelling activated the large-conductance K+ channel (n=14) and hyperpolarized the membrane potential of the cells by 9±1 mV (n=23). Intracellular Ca2+ activity increased after hypotonic stress. This increase depended on the extracellular Ca2+ activity. A possible physiological function of the large-conductance K+ channel in rat CCD cells may be the reduction of the intracellular K+ concentration after cell swelling. Once this channel is activated by increases in the cytosolic Ca2+ activity it can be regulated by changes in cellular pH and ATP.

Different types of blockers of the intermediate-conductance outwardly rectifying chloride channel in epithelia.

Epithelial chloride channels can be blocked by various inhibitors, which show considerable differences in their molecular structure. In the present patch-clamp study, we compared different blockers of one type of epithelial Cl− channel with respect to their inhibitory potency. We applied the blockers to excised inside-out-or outside-out-oriented membrane patches of cultured HT29 colon carcinoma and respiratory epithelial cells (REC) containing the outwardly rectifying intermediate-conductance (ICOR) chloride channel. Four types of inhibitory compounds were tested: stilbene disulphonate derivatives, indanyloxyacetic acid, amidine, and arylaminobenzoates. The concentrations for half-maximal inhibition (IC50) for the different channel blockers were (μmol/l): 4-acetamido-4′-isothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid 100; 4,4′-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2′-disulphonic acid 80; indanyloxyacetic acid 9; 4,4′-dinitrostilbene-2, 2′-disulphonic acid 8; amidine 8 and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB) 0.9. All compounds, when applied to the cytosolic side of the channel, induced a flicker-type block of the ICOR Cl− channel at lower concentrations and a complete channel inhibition at higher concentrations. The inhibitory potency of NPPB was much higher when it was added to the external surface of the channel in outside-out-oriented membrane patches. At 1 μmol/l the inhibition was complete. All blocker effects were fully reversible. The probe with the highest affinity (NPPB) and a closely related compound 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylethylamino)-benzoate (NPFB) were used to construct macromolecular probes by linking these blockers to aminopolyethyleneglycol (PEG) or aminoethyl-O-dextran (5 kDa). These macromolecular NPPB and NPEB derivatives inhibited the ICOR Cl− channels only from the outside but had no effect on the cytosolic side. In the case of PEG-NPPB an IC50 of 30 nmol/l was determined in outside-out patches. The data indicate that the interaction site for arylaminobenzoates is accessible from the outer aspects of the Cl− channel facing the extracellular medium. Furthermore, these data show that the macromolecular probes of arylaminobenzoates have affinities to the Cl− channel very similar to those of the respective parent compounds.

Ion conductances of isolated cortical collecting duct cells.

The study of ion conductances in the intact cortical collecting duct (CCD) with the patch-clamp method is rather difficult. An optimized method to isolate CCD cells from rat kidneys using an in vivo followed by an in vitro enzyme digestion is described. Individual CCD segments were collected after this digestion and incubated in EGTA-buffered medium. This procedure resulted in single cells or cell clusters. These freshly isolated CCD cells were studied with different modifications of the patch-clamp method. Membrane voltages measured in the cell-attached-nystatin configuration were −74 ±1mV (n=13) and −68±3 mV (n=22) in cells isolated from normal and mineralocorticoid-treated rats respectively. These values and those measured with the nystatin-perforated slow-whole-cell configuration (−79 ±1mV, n=23) are comparable to those measured in principal cells of isolated CCD segments. The cells hyperpolarized after the addition of amiloride and depolarized with the addition of adiuretin to the bath. The amiloride effect was enhanced when cells were isolated from deoxycorticosterone-acetate-treated rats. The cells were strongly depolarized upon elevation of the extracellular K+-concentration and did not demonstrate a measurable Cl− conductance. A large-conductance K+ channel (174 pS, n=5, cell-attached, 145 mmol/l K+ in the pipette; 140 pS, n=12, cell-free, 3.6 mmol/l K+ in the bath) was seen. It had a very low activity on the cell, but a high open probability when excised into a solution with 1 mmol/l Ca2+ on the cytosolic side. More often a small-conductance K+ channel (36–52 pS, n=19, cell-attached; 30 pS, n=5, cell-free) with a high open probability was found on the cell. These freshly isolated cells seem to be a powerful preparation to study the properties and regulation of ion conductances of rat CCD with several electrophysiological methods. These freshly isolated CCD cells maintain the conductance properties known from principal cells of the intact CCD.

Bicarbonate permeability of epithelial chloride channels.

AbstractBicarbonate permeability of epithelial chloride channels has been studied using the patch-clamp technique. The experiments were performed in excised insideout oriented membrane patches from three different cultured cell types: (a) HT29 colon carcinoma cell line, (b) T84 colon carcinoma cell line, and (c) respiratory epithelial cells (REC) in primary culture. In all three preparations we observed outwardly rectifying chloride channels with similar conductances with 145 mmol/l NaCl solution in the pipette and in the bath (Cl−pipette/ Cl−bath). When Cl− was replaced by HCO3−in the bath (Cl−/HCO3−) the conductance of the channel at negative clamp voltages was reduced significantly by 40% for HT29 (n=6), 39% for T84 (n=7), and 38% for REC (n=6). Similarly, the zero-current potential (VI=0) was shifted from 0 mV (Cl−/Cl−) to negative values (Cl−/ HCO3−) revealing permeability ratios

Increase in cytosolic Ca2+ regulates exocytosis and Cl− conductance in HT29 cells

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Versatile supplement device with remote control for the control of patch clamp experiments

of 2.4±0.1 for HT29 (n=6), 2.0±0.1 for T84 (n=7), and 1.8±0.1 for REC (n=7). With NaHCO3 as the pipette solution and NaCl in the bath, the VI=0 was positive and a