scholarly journals Intracellular pH-regulating mechanism of the squid axon. Relation between the external Na+ and HCO-3 dependences.

1985 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 325-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
W F Boron

The intracellular pH-regulating mechanism of the squid axon was examined for its dependence on the concentrations of external Na+ and HCO3-, always at an external pH (pHo) of 8.0. Axons having an initial intracellular pH (pHi) of approximately 7.4 were internally dialyzed with a solution of pH 6.5 that contained 400 mM Cl- and no Na+. After pHi had fallen to approximately 6.6, dialysis was halted, thereby returning control of pHi to the axon. With external Na+ and HCO-3 present, intracellular pH (pHi) increased because of the activity of the pHi-regulating system. The acid extrusion rate (i.e., equivalent efflux of H+, JH) is the product of the pHi recovery rate, intracellular buffering power, and the volume-to-surface ratio. The [HCO3-]o dependence of JH was examined at three fixed levels of [Na+]o: 425, 212, and 106 mM. In all three cases, the apparent Jmax was approximately 19 pmol X cm-2 X s-1. However, the apparent Km (HCO3-) was approximately inversely proportional to [Na+]o, rising from 2.6 to 5.4 to 9.7 mM as [Na+]o was lowered from 425 to 212 to 106 mM, respectively. The [Na+]o dependence of JH was similarly examined at three fixed levels of [HCO3-]o: 12, 6, and 3 mM. The Jmax values did not vary significantly from those in the first series of experiments. The apparent Km (Na+), however, was approximately inversely related to [HCO3-]o, rising from 71 to 174 to 261 mM as [HCO3-]o was lowered from 12 to 6 to 3 mM, respectively. These results agree with the predictions of the ion-pair model of acid extrusion, which has external Na+ and CO3= combining to form the ion pair NaCO3-, which then exchanges for internal Cl-. When the JH data are replotted as a function of [NaCO3-]o, data from all six groups of experiments fall along the same Michaelis-Menten curve, with an apparent Km (NaCO3-) of 80 microM. The ordered and random binding of Na+ and CO3= cannot be ruled out as possible models, but are restricted in allowable combinations of rate constants.

1989 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
W F Boron ◽  
R C Knakal

Intracellular pH (pHi) of the squid axon is regulated by a stilbenesensitive transporter that couples the influx of Na+ and HCO3- (or the equivalent) to the efflux of Cl-. According to one model, the extracellular ion pair NaCO3- exchanges for intracellular Cl-. In the present study, the ion-pair model was tested by examining the interaction of the reversible stilbene derivative 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (DNDS) with extracellular Na+ and HCO3-. Axons (initial pHi approximately 7.4) were internally dialyzed with a pH 6.5 solution containing 400 mM Cl- but no Na+. After pHi, as measured with a glass microelectrode, had fallen to approximately 6.6, dialysis was halted. In the presence of both external Na+ and HCO3- (pHo = 8.0, 22 degrees C), pHi increased due to the pHi-regulating mechanism. At a fixed [Na+]o of 425 mM and [HCO3-]o of 12 mM, DNDS reversibly reduced the equivalent acid-extrusion rate (JH) calculated from the rate of pHi recovery. The best-fit value for maximal inhibition was 104%, and for the [DNDS]o at half-maximal inhibition, 0.3 mM. At a [Na+]o of 425 mM, the [HCO3-]o dependence of JH was examined at 0, 0.1, and 0.25 mM DNDS. Although Jmax was always approximately 20 pmol cm-2 s-1, Km(HCO3-) was 2.6, 5.7, and 12.7 mM, respectively. Thus, DNDS is competitive with HCO3-. At a [HCO3-]o of 12 mM, the [Na+]o dependence of JH was examined at 0 and 0.1 mM DNDS. Although Jmax was approximately 20 pmol cm-2 s-1 in both cases, Km(Na+) was 71 and 179 mM, respectively. At a [HCO3-]o of 48 mM, Jmax was approximately 20 pmol cm-2 s-1 at [DNDS]o levels of 0, 0.1, and 0.25 mM. However, Km(Na+) was 22, 45, and 90 mM, respectively. Thus, DNDS (an anion) is also competitive with Na+. The results are consistent with simple competition between DNDS and NaCO3-, and place severe restrictions on other kinetic models.


2002 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Yeung ◽  
J.-P. Bourreau ◽  
D. G. Allen ◽  
H. J. Ballard

The effect of eccentric contraction on force generation and intracellular pH (pHi) regulation was investigated in rat soleus muscle. Eccentric muscle damage was induced by stretching muscle bundles by 30% of the optimal length for a series of 10 tetani. After eccentric contractions, there was reduction in force at all stimulation frequencies and a greater reduction in relative force at low-stimulus frequencies. There was also a shift of optimal length to longer lengths. pHi was measured with a pH-sensitive probe, 2′,7′-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein AM. pHi regulation was studied by inducing an acute acid load with the removal of 20–40 mM ammonium chloride, and the rate of pHi recovery was monitored. The acid extrusion rate was obtained by multiplying the rate of pHi recovery by the buffering power. The resting pHi after eccentric contractions was more acidic, and the rate of recovery from acid load post-eccentric contractions was slower than that from postisometric controls. This is further supported by the slower acid extrusion rate. Amiloride slowed the recovery from an acid load in control experiments. Because the Na+/H+ exchanger is the dominant mechanism for the recovery of pHi, this suggests that the impairment in the ability of the muscle to regulate pHiafter eccentric contractions is caused by decreased activity of the Na+/H+ exchanger.


2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (6) ◽  
pp. C1218-C1229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukio Miyata ◽  
Shigeaki Muto ◽  
Satoru Yanagiba ◽  
Yasushi Asano

To examine the effect of hyperosmolality on Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) activity in mesangial cells (MCs), we used a pH-sensitive dye, 2′,7′-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein-AM, to measure intracellular pH (pHi) in a single MC from rat glomeruli. All the experiments were performed in CO2/[Formula: see text]-free HEPES solutions. Exposure of MCs to hyperosmotic HEPES solutions (500 mosmol/kgH2O) treated with mannitol caused cell alkalinization. The hyperosmolality-induced cell alkalinization was inhibited by 100 μM ethylisopropylamiloride, a specific NHE inhibitor, and was dependent on extracellular Na+. The hyperosmolality shifted the Na+-dependent acid extrusion rate vs. pHi by 0.15–0.3 pH units in the alkaline direction. Removal of extracellular Cl− by replacement with gluconate completely abolished the rate of cell alkalinization induced by hyperosmolality and inhibited the Na+-dependent acid extrusion rate, whereas, under isosmotic conditions, it caused no effect on Na+-dependent pHi recovery rate or Na+-dependent acid extrusion rate. The Cl−-dependent cell alkalinization rate under hyperosmotic conditions was partially inhibited by pretreatment with 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid, DIDS, and colchicine. We conclude: 1) in MCs, hyperosmolality activates NHE to cause cell alkalinization, 2) the acid extrusion rate via NHE is greater under hyperosmotic conditions than under isosmotic conditions at a wide range of pHi, 3) the NHE activation under hyperosmotic conditions, but not under isosmotic conditions, requires extracellular Cl−, and 4) the Cl−-dependent NHE activation under hyperosmotic conditions partly occurs via Cl− channel and microtubule-dependent processes.


1983 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
W F Boron ◽  
J M Russell

The ion transport system responsible for intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in squid giant axons was examined in experiments with pH-sensitive microelectrodes and isotopic fluxes of Na+ and Cl-. In one study, axons were acid-loaded and the rate of the subsequent pHi recovery was used to calculate the acid extrusion rate. There was an absolute dependence of acid extrusion on external Na+, external HCO-3 (at constant pH), and internal Cl-. Furthermore, the dependence of the acid extrusion rate on each of these three parameters was described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Acid extrusion was stimulated by an acid pHi, required internal ATP, and was blocked by external 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (SITS). Under a standard set of conditions (i.e., [HCO-3]o = 12 mM, pHo = 8.00, [Na+]o = 425 mM, [Cl-]i = 150 mM, [ATP]i = 4 mM, pHi = 6.5, and 16 degrees C), the mean acid extrusion rate was 7.5 pmol X cm-2 X s-1. In a second study under the above standard conditions, the unidirectional Na+ efflux (measured with 22Na) mediated by the pHi-regulating system was found to be approximately 0, whereas the mean influx was about 3.4 pmol X cm-2 X s-1. This net influx required external HCO-3, internal Cl-, and acid pHi, internal ATP, and was blocked by SITS. In the final series of experiments under the above standard conditions, the unidirectional Cl- influx (measured with 36Cl) mediated by the pHi-regulating system was found to be approximately 0, whereas the mean efflux was approximately 3.9 pmol X cm-2 X s-1. This net efflux required external HCO-3, external Na+, an acid pHi, internal ATP, and was blocked by SITS. We conclude that the pHi-regulating system mediates the obligate net influx of HCO-3 (or equivalent species) and Na+ and the net efflux of Cl- in the stoichiometry of 2:1:1. The transport system is stimulated by intracellular acid loads, requires ATP, and is blocked by SITS.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 1252-1262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huai-Ren Chang ◽  
Chih-Feng Lien ◽  
Jing-Ren Jeng ◽  
Jen-Che Hsieh ◽  
Chen-Wei Chang ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Intermittent hypoxia (IH) has been shown to exert preconditioning-like cardioprotective effects. It also has been reported that IH preserves intracellular pH (pHi) during ischemia and protects cardiomyocytes against ischemic reperfusion injury. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. Methods: In this study, we used proton indicator BCECF-AM to analyze the rate of pHi recovery from acidosis in the IH model of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes. Neonatal cardiomyocytes were first treated with repetitive hypoxia-normoxia cycles for 1-4 days. Cells were then acid loaded with NH4Cl, and the rate of pHi recovery from acidosis was measured. Results: We found that the pHi recovery rate from acidosis was much slower in the IH group than in the room air (RA) group. When we treated cardiomyocytes with Na+-H+ exchange (NHE) inhibitors (Amiloride and HOE642) or Na+-free Tyrode solution during the recovery, there was no difference between RA and IH groups. We also found intracellular Na+ concentration ([Na+]i) significantly increased after IH exposure for 4 days. However, the phenomenon could be abolished by pretreatment with ROS inhibitors (SOD and phenanathroline), intracellular calcium chelator or Na+-Ca2+ exchange (NCX) inhibitor. Furthermore, the pHi recovery rate from acidosis became faster in the IH group than in the RA group when inhibition of NCX activity. Conclusions: These results suggest that IH would induce the elevation of ROS production. ROS then activates Ca2+-efflux mode of NCX and results in intracellular Na+ accumulation. The rise of [Na+]i further inhibits the activity of NHE-mediated acid extrusion and retards the rate of pHi recovery from acidosis during IH.


2004 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 160-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter F. Boron

The approach that most animal cells employ to regulate intracellular pH (pHi) is not too different conceptually from the way a sophisticated system might regulate the temperature of a house. Just as the heat capacity (C) of a house minimizes sudden temperature (T) shifts caused by acute cold and heat loads, the buffering power (β) of a cell minimizes sudden pHi shifts caused by acute acid and alkali loads. However, increasing C (or β) only minimizes T (or pHi) changes; it does not eliminate the changes, return T (or pHi) to normal, or shift steady-state T (or pHi). Whereas a house may have a furnace to raise T, a cell generally has more than one acid-extruding transporter (which exports acid and/or imports alkali) to raise pHi. Whereas an air conditioner lowers T, a cell generally has more than one acid-loading transporter to lower pHi. Just as a house might respond to graded decreases (or increases) in T by producing graded increases in heat (or cold) output, cells respond to graded decreases (or increases) in pHi with graded increases (or decreases) in acid-extrusion (or acid-loading) rate. Steady-state T (or pHi) can change only in response to a change in chronic cold (or acid) loading or chronic heat (or alkali) loading as produced, for example, by a change in environmental T (or pH) or a change in the kinetics of the furnace (or acid extrudes) or air conditioner (or acid loaders). Finally, just as a temperature-control system might benefit from environmental sensors that provide clues about cold and heat loading, at least some cells seem to have extracellular CO2 or extracellular HCO3− sensors that modulate acid-base transport.


1979 ◽  
Vol 237 (3) ◽  
pp. C185-C193 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. F. Boron ◽  
W. C. McCormick ◽  
A. Roos

Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation was studied in acid-loaded barnacle muscle fibers by monitoring recovery of pHi with a pH-sensitive microelectrode. By multiplying the rate of pHi recovery by total intracellular buffering power, the acid extrusion rate was obtained. The acid extrusion rate was greatest at low values of pHi, and declined toward zero as pHi approached normal levels. It increased as the extracellular pH (pHo) was raised either by increasing external [HCO3] ([HCO3]o) at constant PCO2 or by decreasing PCO2 at constant [HCO3]o, but more so in the former case than in the latter. These observations suggest that pHo per se is an important determinant of the acid extrusion rate, but that raising [HCO3]o by itself also stimulates acid extrusion. This would be expected if acid extrusion involves the inward movement of HCO3. When fibers were exposed to HCO3-containing solutions at very low or very high pHo, pHi drifted downward or upward, respectively; thbe drifts were inhibited by 4-acetamido-4' isothiocyanostilbene-2,2' disulfonic acid (SITS). Our results are discussed in terms of possible mechanisms of acid extrusion.


1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (2) ◽  
pp. F179-F192 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. K. Chen ◽  
W. F. Boron

Monitoring the absorbance spectra of the pH-sensitive dye dimethylcarboxyfluorescein, we studied intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in the isolated perfused S3 segment of rabbit proximal tubule. To explain a previous observation, that steady-state pHi is higher in the presence than in the absence of CO2/HCO3- (N. L. Nakhoul, L. K. Chen, and W. F. Boron. J. Gen. Physiol. 102: 1171-1205, 1993), we examined the effect of bilateral (i.e., luminal and basolateral) CO2/HCO3- on the acid extrusion processes responsible for recovery of pHi from acid loads. To compute fluxes from rates of pHi change, we determined the pHi dependence of intrinsic intracellular buffering power, which was approximately 50 mM/pH at pHi 6.5 and fell linearly to approximately 20 mM at pHi 7.4. In one series of experiments, we monitored the rate of pHi recovery from an acid load imposed by an NH4+/NH3 prepulse. Over a broad range of pHi values, total net acid extrusion was approximately four times higher in bilateral presence of CO2/HCO3- than in its absence. In a second group of experiments, which were designed to determine the effect of CO2/HCO3- on luminal Na+/H+ exchange, we monitored the rate of pHi recovery elicited by adding Na+ back to only the lumen, after first removing Na+ bilaterally. Initial rate of luminal Na(+)-dependent net acid extrusion in presence of CO2/HCO3- was approximately 229 microM/s (pHi 6.92), approximately 1.8 times higher than the flux of approximately 127 microM/s (P < 0.005) obtained in absence of CO2/HCO3- (pHi 6.66). CO2/HCO3- alkali-shifted the flux vs. pHi relationship by 0.3-0.4 pH units. In a final series of experiments, we examined the effect of CO2/HCO3- on the Na(+)-independent alkalinization that follows the rapid, initial acidification elicited by bilateral Na+ removal. In the presence of CO2/HCO3-, lag time for initiation of the Na(+)-independent alkalinization was only approximately 36 vs. approximately 211 s (P < 0.002) in absence of CO2/HCO3-. Also, Na(+)-independent net acid extrusion rate was approximately two to three times higher in presence than in absence of CO2/HCO3- at comparable pHi. This Na(+)-independent acid extrusion was insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide (2 mM), but was inhibited approximately 94% by efforts to deplete intracellular ATP (i.e., removal of glucose and amino acids, plus addition of 2 mM cyanide and 10 mM iodoacetic acid). Stimulation of luminal Na+/H+ exchange and Na(+)-independent acid extrusion appears to be the major, if not the entire, explanation for the higher steady-state pHi caused by bilateral addition of CO2/HCO3-.


1995 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Ravesloot ◽  
T Eisen ◽  
R Baron ◽  
W F Boron

Osteoclasts resorb bone by pumping of H+ into a compartment between the cell and the bone surface. Intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis requires that this acid extrusion, mediated by a vacuolar-type H+ ATPase, be complemented by other acid-base transporters. We investigated acid-extrusion mechanisms of single, freshly isolated, neonatal rat osteoclasts. Cells adherent to glass coverslips were studied in the nominal absence of CO2/HCO3-, using the pH-sensitive dye BCECF and a digital imaging system. Initial pHi averaged 7.31 and was uniform throughout individual cells. Intrinsic buffering power (beta 1) decreased curvilinearly from approximately 25 mM at pHi = 6.4 to approximately 6.0 mM at pHi = 7.4. In all polygonally shaped osteoclasts, and approximately 60% of round osteoclasts (approximately 20% of total), pHi recovery from acid loads was mediated exclusively by Na-H exchange. In these pattern-1 cells, pHi recovery was 95% complete within 200 s, and was blocked by removing Na+, or by applying 1 mM amiloride, 50 microM ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA), or 50 microM hexamethyleneamiloride (HMA). The apparent K1/2 for HMA ([Na+]o = 150 mM) was 49 nM, and the apparent K1/2 for Na+ was 45 mM. Na-H exchange, corrected for amiloride-insensitive fluxes, was half maximal at pHi 6.73, with an apparent Hill coefficient for intracellular H+ of 2.9. Maximal Na-H exchange averaged 741 microM/s. In the remaining approximately 40% of round osteoclasts (pattern-2 cells), pHi recovery from acid loads was brisk even in the absence of Na+ or presence of amiloride. This Na(+)-independent pHi recovery was blocked by 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol (NBD-Cl), a vacuolar-type H+ pump inhibitor. Corrected for NBD-Cl insensitive fluxes, H+ pump fluxes decreased approximately linearly from 96 at pHi 6.8 to 11 microM/s at pHi 7.45. In approximately 45% of pattern-2 cells, Na+ readdition elicited a further pHi recovery, suggesting that H+ pumps and Na-H exchangers can exist simultaneously. We conclude that, under the conditions of our study, most neonatal rat osteoclasts express Na-H exchangers that are probably of the ubiquitous basolateral subtype. Some cells express vacuolar-type H+ pumps in their plasma membrane, as do active osteoclasts in situ.


1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1001-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Thomas

A new design of double micropipette was used to measure intracellular pH, membrane potential, and surface pH of superfused snail neurones. A third double micropipette was used to control the membrane potential via a CsCl-filled barrel and inject HCl iontophoretically. In one series of experiments the surface pH fell by up to one-third of a pH unit when the membrane potential was clamped to 20 mV, pHi was initially 6.7, and extracellular pH was about 7.4 in a medium buffered either with 2 mM HEPES or 2.7% CO2 and 20 mM bicarbonate. In a second series in which surface pH was observed during brief depolarizations to different potentials with different pHi, the potential at which the surface began to acidify varied with pHi with a slope of 32 mV per pH unit. The results confirm that H+ ions leave depolarized snail neurones if the electrochemical gradient is favourable and show that CO2–bicarbonate buffered solutions have a low effective extracellular buffering power for rapid additions of acid.


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