Na(+)-H+ and Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange control pHi in vascular smooth muscle

The mechanisms that control intracellular pH (pHi) in vascular smooth muscle are not fully understood. These studies were performed to determine the identity and relative importance of the sarcolemmal transport systems that mediate net acid efflux in primary cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from canine femoral artery. In HEPES- or HCO3(-)-buffered physiological salt solution (HEPES-PSS, HCO3(-)-PSS), recovery from an acute acid load was totally dependent on external Na+. 5-[N-ethyl-N-isopropyl]amiloride (EIPA, 50 microM) inhibited pHi recovery 100 and 68% in HEPES-PSS and HCO3(-)-PSS, respectively. EIPA-insensitive pHi recovery in HCO3(-)-PSS was inhibited 48% by 4,4'-diisothyocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). An outwardly directed H+ gradient stimulated amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ uptake, and an inwardly directed HCO3- gradient stimulated amiloride-insensitive 22Na+ uptake. The latter was inhibited by DIDS or prior depletion of cell Cl-. In HEPES-PSS, resting pHi was 7.17 +/- 0.03, was not affected by DIDS, but was lowered by EIPA or by removing extracellular Na+. In HCO3(-)-PSS, resting pHi was 7.25 +/- 0.02 (P less than 0.05) and was not affected by EIPA. Removing extracellular Na+ in the presence of EIPA decreased pHi in HCO3(-)-PSS but not in HEPES-PSS. DIDS lowered resting pHi in HCO3(-)-PSS, after which EIPA further lowered pHi. We conclude that acid efflux from these cells is mediated by a Na(+)-H+ exchanger and a Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger. In HEPES-PSS, acid efflux via the Na(+)-H+ exchanger maintains resting pHi. In HCO3(-)-PSS, additional acid efflux via the Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger results in a higher pHi. Although the Na(+)-H+ exchanger is primarily responsible for acid efflux after an acute acid load, the Na(+)-dependent Cl(-)-HCO3- exchanger is responsible for acid efflux under physiological conditions.