Effects of amiloride on Na+ content and pinocytosis in Entamoeba histolytica

Amiloride, a blocker of Na+ leak and Na+-H+ exchange in animal cells, caused cells of Entamoeba histolytica to release Na+ (up to 40% of their original Na+ content within 90 min, at an amiloride concentration of 3 mM); K+ content was not affected. By comparing the unidirectional uptake of 22Na+ with that of the fluid-phase marker 125I-labeled poly(vinylpyrrolidone) we established that the amiloride-induced Na+ loss was due to inhibition of pinocytic Na+ uptake rather than to blockage of an amiloride-sensitive transport system in the plasma membrane. Amiloride penetrated the cells, and both its intracellular concentration and its effect on pinocytosis increased with pH. The permeant weak base quinacrine similarly inhibited pinocytosis in a pH-dependent manner. We conclude that the effect of amiloride on pinocytosis and, consequently, on Na+ content was due to its properties as a permeant weak base.