Aldosterone induces apical vesicles in rat distal colon

Mineralocorticoid steroids markedly alter ion transport in responsive epithelia. Increases in absorption of Na+ and secretion of K+ and H+ are accompanied by increases in surface area of the basolateral membrane. The basolateral membrane changes are associated with increased Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity and increased numbers of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump sites. It is thought that H+ secretion is mediated by H+ pumps contained in apical vesicles that are added to the luminal membrane in response to acidifying stimuli. Whether there are changes in the number or volume of apical vesicles in response to aldosterone has not been evaluated. To this purpose, we evaluated apical membrane morphology in rat distal colon, a mineralocorticoid-responsive epithelium. We found that aldosterone infused for 4-7 days by osmotic minipump significantly increased the number, surface density, and total volume of apical vesicles. Exposure of tissues to 5% CO2 for 15 min before fixation resulted in significant decreases in vesicle number, surface density, and volume in aldosterone-stimulated tissues. After CO2, apical vesicles in aldosterone-stimulated tissues tended to be closer to the luminal membrane; apical membrane surface density was increased but not to a significant degree. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated acridine orange accumulation in discrete points under the lumen, suggesting the presence of acidic vesicles in this location. We propose that aldosterone increases the activity of a membrane shuttle system that is regulated by CO2 as found in other H(+)-secreting epithelia. This system may mediate aldosterone-induced changes in colonic H+ transport.