Hypertonic cell volume regulation in mouse thick limbs. II. Na+-H+ and Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange in basolateral membranes

Differential interference contrast microscopy and standard electrophysiological techniques were used to evaluate the transport processes involved in antidiuretic hormone (ADH)-dependent hypertonic cell volume regulation in the in vitro perfused mouse medullary thick ascending limb of Henle. Hypertonic cell volume regulation appeared to involve NaCl uptake into cells, since the cell volume increase after osmotic shrinkage in hypertonic media could be abolished either by symmetrical removal of Na+ from external solutions or by bath Cl- omission. The volume-regulatory process also required CO2/HCO3- in external media and could be abolished by the lipophilic carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, ethoxzolamide, in the presence of CO2/HCO3-. In addition, ADH-dependent hypertonic cell volume regulation was reduced or abolished by 10(-4) M amiloride, 10(-3) M ouabain, or 10(-4) M 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid in peritubular media or by cooling to 15 degrees C. In contrast, lumen Cl- omission or 10(-4) M amiloride addition to the perfusate had no effect on cell volume regulation in hypertonic peritubular media. These data suggest that ADH-dependent, hypertonic cell volume regulation in the mouse medullary thick limb depends on cell NaCl uptake via a secondary active transport process involving parallel Na+-H+ and Cl(-)-HCO3- exchangers in basolateral cell membranes. Finally, luminal furosemide (10(-4) M) abolished bath ouabain-mediated, rapid cell swelling in isotonic media containing ADH. Thus these exchangers do not appear to be active in the resting, isotonic state. The specific role of ADH in this NaCl transport process remains to be defined.