Effect of lumen pH on cell pH and cell potential in rabbit proximal tubules

To determine the effect of luminal pH on cell pH and basolateral cell membrane potential difference (Vbl) of rabbit proximal convoluted tubules, Vbl was measured by conventional microelectrodes and intracellular pH was measured microfluorometrically. Lowering lumen pH acidified the cell and depolarized Vbl. Three factors contributed to depolarization of Vbl. Lowering lumen pH decreased apical cell membrane potassium permeability (PK) as indicated by the following: 1) at lumen pH 7.4 raising lumen [K] depolarized Vbl; 2) lowering lumen pH eliminated the depolarization of Vbl induced by increasing lumen [K]. An additional effect was suggested by the following: lumen Ba2+ blunted, but did not eliminate, the Vbl response to lowering lumen pH. An effect on basolateral K permeability (PK) via its effect on cell pH was suggested by the fact that lowering lumen pH dramatically reduced the depolarization induced by increasing bath [K]. Lowering lumen pH might influence Vbl by inhibiting H+-HCO3- transport. Addition of 1 mM 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS) to the bath solution hyperpolarized Vbl and enhanced the depolarization induced by lowering luminal pH. At luminal pH 6.0 SITS had no effect, suggesting elimination of H+ secretion. Addition of 1 mM luminal amiloride had no effect on Vbl or the response of Vbl to lowering luminal pH, but in the presence of amiloride SITS still hyperpolarized Vbl, suggesting amiloride-insensitive electrogenic H+ secretion. These results suggest that lumen pH-dependent depolarization of Vbl is due to 1) a decrease in apical PK; 2) cell acidification with secondary effects on basolateral PK; and 3) a decrease in apical electrogenic H+ transport.