Na+/H+ exchange in mosquito Malpighian tubules
Fluid secretion and intracellular pH were measured in isolated mosquito Malpighian tubules to determine the presence of Na+/H+ exchange. Rates of fluid secretion by individual Malpighian tubules in vitro were inhibited by 78% of control in the presence of 100 μM 5-( N-ethyl- n-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA), a specific inhibitor of Na+/H+ exchange. Steady-state intracellular pH was measured microfluorometrically by using 2′,7′-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein in individual Malpighian tubules. Bathing the Malpighian tubules in 0 mM extracellular Na+ or in the presence of 100 μM EIPA reduced the steady-state intracellular pH by 0.5 pH units. Stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger by using the NH4Cl pulse technique resulted in a rate of recovery from the NH4Cl-induced acute acid load of 8.7 ± 1.0 × 10−3 pH/s. The rates of recovery of intracellular pH after the acute acid load in the absence of extracellular Na+ or in the presence of 100 μM EIPA were 0.7 ± 0.6 and −0.3 ± 0.3 × 10−3 pH/s, respectively. These results indicate that mosquito Malpighian tubules possess a Na+/H+ exchanger.