Carbonic anhydrase and proton secretion in turtle bladder mitochondrial-rich cells

Bladders from actively feeding turtles were processed for carbonic anhydrase (CA) cytochemically. CA-positive cells were identified as microplicated (MP) cells, microvillated (MV) cells, and subluminal (SL) cells. After acute enhancement of H+ secretion with 5% CO2, MP cells displayed extensive microplicae and a reduced density of apical subplasmalemmal vesicles, and they were CA reactive throughout a large part of the cytoplasm including the microplicae. After acute inhibition of H+ secretion with a pH 4.5 mucosal bath, CA staining was excluded from the microplicae and apical subplasmalemmal region of most MP cells, whereas microplicae varied from extensive to reduced, and subapical vesicle density remained elevated. MV cells were characterized by basolateral staining with sparing of the MV and apical subplasmalemmal region in all settings except 1) after 5% CO2 and 2) when MV cells were found in areas in which MP cells were stained to the lumen. These results indicate that CA is active at the site of H+ secretion in MP cells and is correlated with the acute acid-base status of the bladder.