Mechanisms of ion transport across the choroid plexus

1. Mechanisms of ion transport across the choroidal epithelium were investigated using an in vitro preparation of the frog choroid plexus.2. Sodium was actively transported across the plexus from the vascular to the ventricular surface by an ouabain sensitive electrically silent pump. As in other epithelial membranes the rate of sodium transport was stimulated by the presence of bicarbonate ions in the Ringer solutions. Chloride and bicarbonate ions accompany the net flux of sodium across this tissue.3. Some experiments suggest that potassium is actively transported from the ventricular to the serosal surface, and that the rate of transport is a function of the extracellular potassium concentration.4. No evidence was obtained to suggest that calcium is actively transported across this tissue in either direction.5. Diamox, ethoxyzolamide, pitocin, pitressin, hydrocortisone, amiloride, spironolactone and anoxia all failed to influence sodium transport.6. The sequence of passive ion permeation across the plexus was P(Rb) approximately P(K) > P(Cs) approximately P(Na) approximately P(Cl) approximately P(HCO3) > P(Li) as deduced from diffusion potential measurements. At least for Na, K and Cl there was a good correlation between the permeability coefficients derived from unidirectional flux measurements and from electrical parameters. This indicates that exchange diffusion is unimportant as a mechanism for passive ion transport.7. The instantaneous current-voltage curves were linear in both symmetrical and asymmetrical salt solutions and the choroid plexus conductance was found to be directly proportional to the external salt concentration. These and other lines of evidence suggest that the major route of passive ion permeation across this epithelium is via the tight junction route and not through the cell interior.8. These results are discussed in relation to the in vivo studies of c.s.f. secretion and the mechanisms of active and passive ion transport across other epithelial membranes such as the gall-bladder, intestine and renal proximal tubule.