Electroneutral H+ secretion in distal tubule of Amphiuma

This study examines the cellular mechanisms of acid secretion by the in vitro perfused late distal tubule of Amphiuma kidney. Acidification of tubule fluid occurred against an electrochemical gradient of 16 mV; thus H+ secretion was active. Amiloride (1 mM) or a reduction of sodium in the perfusion fluid (from 83.7 to 7.7 mM) partially reduced acidification. Amiloride, in the presence of low sodium, completely inhibited acidification. Furthermore, acetazolamide and ouabain in the bath solution (0.1 mM) also inhibited acidification. Conductive properties of the epithelium and of individual cell membranes were determined by means of cable analysis of the tubule and intracellular voltage recordings. The transepithelial voltage and resistance averaged -0.4 +/- 0.4 mV, lumen negative, and 7,147 +/- 845 omega X cm, respectively. Two functionally different cell types were identified by intracellular microelectrodes. Type I cells had a basolateral membrane voltage (Vbl) of -67.7 mV. As determined by ion substitution experiments, the basolateral membrane was conductive to K+ and Cl-. This cell also had a 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2-2'-disulfonic acid (SITS)-sensitive Na+-dependent HCO3- exit pathway in the basolateral membrane. Type II cells had a Vbl of -76.1 mV (P less than 0.05 vs. type I) and the basolateral membrane was conductive to K+ and Cl- but not to HCO3-. HCO3- movement across the basolateral membrane in this cell may occur by electroneutral Cl- -HCO3- exchange. The apical cell membrane of both cell types did not contain measurable ionic conductances, as evidenced by a high value of apical membrane fractional resistance (0.98 +/- 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)