Microelectrode assessment of chloride-conductive properties of cortical collecting duct

The chloride-conductive properties of the isolated rabbit cortical collecting duct were assessed with microelectrode techniques. The transepithelial, apical, and basolateral membrane potential differences, Vte, Va, and Vb, respectively, were monitored continuously along with periodic measurements of the transepithelial conductance, Gte, and fractional resistance, fRa (ratio of apical to apical plus basolateral membrane resistance). Active transport was eliminated in all experiments by luminal addition of 50 microM amiloride in HCO3-free solutions. Upon reducing the chloride activity in the bath (gluconate replacement), there was a marked depolarization of Vb and decrease in Gte and fRa, demonstrating a major dependence of the basolateral membrane conductance on the bath chloride activity. However, a significant K+ conductance at that barrier was also apparent since raising the bath K+ concentration caused an increase in Gte and fRa and depolarization of Vb. Lowering the chloride activity of the perfusate caused a consistent decrease of Gte but not of fRa, effects consistent with a high C1- conductance of the tight junction and little, if any, apical membrane C1- conductance. By use of the C1- -dependent conductances, the C1- permeabilities at equilibrium were estimated to be near 1.0 X 10(-5) cm X s-1 for the tight junction, PtiC1, and 5 X 10(-5) cm X s-1 for the basolateral cell membrane, PbC1. It is concluded that the paracellular pathway provides a major route for transepithelial C1- transport. Furthermore, since the isotopically measured C1- permeability is severalfold greater than PtiC1, a significant transcellular flux of C1- must exist, implicating a neutral exchange mechanism at the apical cell membrane in series with the high basolateral membrane C1- conductance.