Ionic conductive properties and electrophysiology of the rabbit cortical collecting tubule

The Na, K, and Cl conductive properties and the electrophysiological variability of the rabbit isolated cortical collecting tubule were assessed by evaluating the effect of single-ion substitutions on the transepithelial potential difference, Vte, and the transepithelial conductance, Gte. The Na permeability (and conductance) of the tight junction and basolateral cell membrane appeared to be low. However, a significant but variable amiloride-sensitive Na conductance was identified at the apical cell membrane. Although this Na conductance accounts for less than 10% of the Gte, variations in this conductance caused major alterations in the active transepithelial Na current and the Vte. A highly variable K permeability (and conductance) was also identified at the apical cell border and may account for some of the variability in Vte and Gte. This probably provides a pathway for K secretion from cell to lumen. The K permeability of the tight junction and basolateral cell membrane appeared to be relatively low. In contrast, the Cl permeability (and conductance) of the tight junction, and perhaps of the basolateral cell membrane, appeared to be high but variable and to account for the major fraction of the Gte and its variability. It is concluded that variations in the Na and K conductance of the apical cell membrane and the Cl conductance of the tight junction and basolateral cell membrane predominantly account for the variations in the electrophysiological properties of the cortical collecting tubule.