Effect of changes in extracellular Cl on intracellular Cl activity in frog skin

Intracellular Cl activity was measured in isolated frog skin (Rana pipiens) with double-barrel microelectrodes. The initial rate of Cl uptake was measured in Cl-depleted cells on reexposure to Cl on apical or basolateral side. In skins with high and low conductance, cell CL activity increased 1.33 and 0.14 mM/s with apical reexposure and 5.03 and 0.30 mM/s with basolateral reexposure, respectively. The initial Cl uptake was reduced on the apical side by 93% with 10(-3) M DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid) and on the basolateral side by 99% with 10(-3) M SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid) plus 10(-5) M bumetanide. The initial rate of Cl loss was measured when Cl was removed from the bath: addition of HCO3 to Cl- and HCO3-free solution caused an acceleration of Cl loss in absence but not in presence of DIDS on apical side. In contrast, Cl loss across the basolateral side was not enhanced by HCO3. In conclusion, Na-transporting cells have a substantial Cl permeability on both sides. HCO3-stimulated Cl loss provides evidence for Cl-HCO3 exchange and permits localization of this process in apical cell membranes of granular cells.