Characterization of human sweat duct chloride conductance by chloride channel blockers

To characterize the chloride conductance of human sweat duct the effect of various analogues of diphenylamine-2-carboxylate was investigated on the transepithelial potential difference (PDT) and resistance (RT) of isolated microperfused sweat ducts. Although the most powerful analogues which block Cl- channels in various secretory and absorptive epithelia were ineffective, a number of analogues (in particular Cl substituted ones) were found which at high concentrations significantly and reversibly increased PDT and RT. The data suggest that the main chloride conductance pathway of sweat duct epithelium resides in the cell membranes rather than in the tight junctions. In addition the different blocking spectra of the chloride conductances of sweat duct and tracheal epithelium (Welsh MJ, Science 232:1648, 1986) suggest that the combined impairment of both conductances in cystic fibrosis does not result from a molecular defect in the Cl- channels.