Intracellular chloride activities in the isolated perfused shark rectal gland

The isolated, perfused shark rectal gland secretes Cl when stimulated with adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). To investigate the mechanism of secretion, we used Cl-selective and conventional (KCl-filled) microelectrodes to measure the intracellular Cl activity (aClc). Under nonsecreting conditions, the electrical potential difference across the basolateral membrane (psi b) was -78 m V and aClc was 57 mM, a value seven times greater than predicted for electrochemical equilibrium across the basolateral membrane. When theophylline and 8-bromo-cAMP were added to the perfusate, the transglandular electrical potential difference doubled and the rate of fluid secretion increased 20-fold; however, neither psi b nor aClc changed. During both nonsecreting and secreting conditions the intracellular accumulation of Cl results in an electrochemical potential difference favoring Cl exit across the apical cell membrane. The constancy of aClc despite the variation in secretion rate suggests that stimulation is associated with an equivalent enhancement of net Cl movement across both the apical and basolateral membranes. When stimulated glands were perfused with Na-free (choline) Ringer, secretion was abolished and aClc fell toward the value predicted for electrochemical equilibrium. These findings suggest that the "uphill" step in Cl secretion lies at the basolateral membrane, where cellular Cl accumulation probably involves secondary active transport; i.e., Cl entry is driven by an inwardly directed electrochemical potential difference for Na.