Sodium and chloride transport across the isolated porcine gallbladder

Porcine gallbladder, stripped of serosal muscle, mounted in Ussing chambers, and bathed in plasma-like Ringer solution generates a serosal positive transepithelial potential of 4-7 mV and a short-circuit current (Isc) of 50-120 microA/cm2. Substitution of Cl with gluconate or HCO3 with N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) results in a 50% decrease in Isc. Treatment with 1 mM amiloride (mucosal side) or 0.1 mM acetazolamide (both sides) causes 25-27% inhibition of the Isc. Mucosal addition of 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid inhibits the Isc by 17%. Serosal addition of 0.1 mM bumetanide inhibits the Isc by 28%. Amiloride (1 mM) inhibits the net transepithelial fluxes of Na and Cl by 55 and 41%, respectively. Substitution of Cl with gluconate inhibits the net Na flux by 50%, whereas substitution of HCO3 with HEPES inhibits 85-90% of the net Na flux and changes Cl absorption to net secretion. Based on these results, it is hypothesized that Na and Cl transport across the apical membrane is mediated by two pathways, Na-H/Cl-HCO3 exchange and Na-HCO3 cotransport. Partial recycling of Cl and HCO3 presumably occurs through a Cl conductive pathway and Cl-HCO3 exchange, respectively, in the apical membrane. This results in net Na absorption, which accounts for most of the Isc observed under basal conditions. The effect of bumetanide on the basolateral membrane and the fact that Cl secretion occurs when HCO3 is absent suggests that Cl secretion involves a basolateral NaCl or Na-K-Cl cotransport system arranged in series with a Cl conductive pathway in the apical membrane.