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Rabbit corneal hydration and the bicarbonate pump.

J S Swan¹, S A Hodson

¹Department of Pharmacology, University of Bristol, School of Medical Sciences, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK. J.S.Swan@Bristol.ac.uk

The Journal of Membrane Biology

|January 8, 2005

Summary

A metabolically driven bicarbonate current actively maintains corneal hydration by transporting ions across the corneal endothelium. This process is crucial for stabilizing stromal hydration at physiological levels.

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Area of Science:

Ocular Physiology
Transport Physiology

Background:

The corneal endothelium stabilizes corneal stroma hydration at physiological levels.
Understanding the transport mechanisms is key to maintaining corneal health.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of bicarbonate transport in maintaining corneal hydration at 22°C.
To elucidate the electrogenic mechanisms underlying corneal endothelium function.

Main Methods:

Experiments conducted on rabbit corneal endothelium at 22°C.
Utilized Ussing-type chambers to measure electrical resistance and short-circuit current (s.c.c.).
Tracer flux studies with H[14C]O3- and 86Rb to determine ion transport.

Main Results:

Corneal swelling occurred when bicarbonate was omitted, reversible upon reintroduction.

Related Experiment Videos

Ouabain inhibited the s.c.c. but not electrical resistance.

Net bicarbonate flux into the aqueous humor correlated with s.c.c., suggesting an electrogenic bicarbonate current.

Conclusions:

A metabolically driven electrogenic bicarbonate current is solely responsible for maintaining corneal hydration at 22°C.
A model of active bicarbonate transport involving a sodium/bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) and an apical anion channel is proposed.
Discrepancies in bicarbonate flux at 35°C may relate to closed eye conditions.