K+ -stimulated Na+ transport in frog-skin epithelia

Increasing [K+] from 2.5 mmol/l to 115 mmol/l on the serosal side of the frog skin produces a rapid decrease of short-circuit current (Isc) that is followed, within a few minutes, by a recovery of Isc to near or above its control value. After isolation of the epithelium by a procedure involving collagenase treatment and physical removal of the corium, increasing serosal [K+] still produced a depression of Isc but no significant recovery phase. By itself, collagenase treatment reduced but did not eliminate the recovery phase. The recovery phase was also markedly depressed by the beta-adrenergic blocker oxprenolol, but not by propranolol, atropine or indomethacin. Amiloride, given during the recovery phase, caused Isc to reverse to a small outward value. These results suggest that the recovery phase of Isc seen in the response to increased serosal [K+] represents an increase in Na+ influx through amiloride-sensitive channels which is triggered by the release of an intermediary agent, possibly a beta-adrenergic agonist, from some structure in the corium.