Two independent anion transport systems in rabbit mandibular salivary glands

Cholinergically stimulated Cl and HCO3 transport in perfused rabbit mandibular glands has been studied with extracellular anion substitution and administration of transport inhibitors. In glands perfused with HCO3-free solutions, replacement of Cl with other anions supported secretion in the following sequence: Br = greater than Cl greater than I = greater than NO3 greater than isethionate. Furosemide, 1.0 and 0.1 mmol/l, inhibited Cl-supported secretion by 97-99% and 70-78%, respectively. SITS, 0.1 mmol/l, had no effect and amiloride, 1.0 mmol/l, caused a 55-65% inhibition. Addition of SITS to amiloride-treated glands produced no further effect. In glands perfused with Cl-free solutions, but containing 25 mM HCO3, amiloride, 1.0 mmol/l, inhibited secretion by 95% and methazolamide, 0.1 mmol/l, by 55%. In glands perfused with solutions containing both HCO3 and Cl, furosemide had smaller effects than in glands perfused with solutions containing only Cl - a dose of 1.0 mmol/l inhibited 60% of the initial fast phase of secretion, and 90% of the later plateau phase, while a dose of 0.1 mmol/l inhibited 30% of the initial phase, but had no effect on the plateau. SITS, 0.1 mmol/l, actually stimulated secretion by about 30%, but when infused in addition to furosemide (0.1 mmol/l), it inhibited by about 20%. Amiloride (1.0 mmol/l) caused no inhibition. The results suggest that there are at least three distinct carriers in the rabbit mandibular gland. One is a furosemide-sensitive Na-coupled Cl (probably Na-K-2Cl) symport, responsible for the bulk of normal secretion. The others are an amiloride-sensitive Na-H antiport and a SITS-sensitive Cl-HCO3 antiport.