Changes in intracellular sodium with chloride secretion in dog tracheal epithelium

Na-selective microelectrodes were employed to investigate the mechanism of Cl secretion by canine tracheal epithelium. In control tissues with a mean short-circuit current (Isc) of 30.1 microA/cm2, the intracellular Na activity (aiNa) was 10.7 mM. Following steady-state stimulation of Cl secretion with epinephrine (Isc = 126.4 microA/cm2), aiNa was 21.3 mM. These data indicate that there is sufficient energy in the Na gradient to drive Cl secretion by this tissue. When analyzed with simple kinetic models for the Na-K pump, they also suggest that the basolateral entry step involves the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter.