Small transepithelial osmotic gradients affect apical sodium permeability in frog skin

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of small, unilateral changes in solution osmolarity on active sodium transport and cellular electrophysiological parameters in frog skin. The active sodium transport across the skin was measured as the amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current (Isc) and cellular potential was monitored with microelectrodes, while small (+/- 20 mOsm) osmotic gradients were imposed on the skin. Increasing the osmolarity of the apical bathing solution (or decreasing the osmolarity of the basolateral solution) increased ISC, lowered tissue resistance (R), depolarized the cellular potential and decreased the fractional resistance of the apical membrane, which indicates an increased apical sodium permeability. Conversely, a similar increase in basolateral osmolarity (or a decrease in apical osmolarity) lowered the Isc, increased R, hyperpolarized the cells and increased the fractional resistance of the apical membrane, indicating a decrease in apical sodium permeability. The results indicate that the osmotic gradient across the skin, rather than solution osmolarity as such, is responsible for the observed changes in Isc and apical sodium permeability after small osmotic perturbations.