Ouabain inhibition of Na/K-ATPase across the retina prevents signed refractive compensation to lens-induced defocus, but not default ocular growth in young chicks

Purpose: The relevance of retinal integrity and energy pathways to ocular growth and induction of refractive errors has seldom been investigated. Thus, we used ouabain to target the channels that are essential for the maintenance of membrane potentials in cells, sodium potassium ATPase (Na/K-ATPase), to examine refractive compensation and ocular growth in response to lens-induced defocus in the chick.Methods: A single intravitreal injection of 1 mM ouabain in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) carrier or DMSO alone was followed by monocular defocus with positive or negative 10 D lens (or no lens) from post-hatching days 5-9 under 12/12 hr light/dark conditions. Biometry and dark-adapted flash and electroretinography (ERG) were conducted on day 9, followed by immunohistological analyses.Results: Ouabain inhibited differential ocular growth and refractive compensation to signed defocus compared to DMSO. By 4-days post-ouabain injection all components of the typical ERG responses to light had been eliminated, and widespread histological damage was apparent, though some ‘default state’ ocular growth was measurable. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated reduction in the specialized water channel Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression and increased evidence of caspase 3 expression (a cell death associated protein) in ouabain-treated eyes compared with DMSO alone.Conclusion: The current study demonstrates that blockade of photoreceptor and inner retinal responses to light onset and offset by ouabain inhibits differential refractive compensation to optical blur, but does not prevent ocular growth.

Na+-K+-ATPase in frog esophagus mucociliary cell membranes: inhibition by protein kinase C activation

We examined protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent regulation of Na+-K+-ATPase in frog mucociliary cells. Activation of PKC by 12- O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or 1,2-dioctanoyl- sn-glycerol (diC8) either in intact cells or isolated membranes resulted in a specific inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase activity by ∼25–45%. The inhibitory effects in membranes exhibited time dependence and dose dependence [half-maximal inhibition concentration (IC50) = 0.5 ± 0.1 nM and 2.4 ± 0.2 μM, respectively, for TPA and diC8] and were not influenced by Ca2+. Analysis of the ouabain inhibition pattern revealed the presence of two Na+-K+-ATPase isoforms with IC50 values for cardiac glycoside of 2.6 ± 0.8 nM and 409 ± 65 nM, respectively. Most importantly, the isoform possessing a higher affinity for ouabain was almost completely inhibited by TPA, whereas its counterpart was hardly sensitive to the PKC activator. The results suggest that, in frog mucociliary cells, PKC regulates Na+-K+-ATPase and that this action is related to the specific Na+-K+-ATPase isoform.

Differential expression of Na-K-ATPase isoforms in rat alveolar epithelial cells

Lung Na-K-ATPase has been shown to contribute to vectorial Na+ transport and edema clearance. The alpha 1- and beta 1-Na-K-ATPase subunits have been localized to alveolar type II (ATII) cells, and the alpha 2-Na-K-ATPase has been reported in rat lung homogenates. Expression of Na-K-ATPase alpha 1-, alpha 2-, and beta 1-subunits was investigated in rat ATII cells cultured for 7 days, a period during which they lose their phenotypic markers and differentiate to an alveolar type I (ATI)-like cell phenotype. Differentiation of ATII cells to an ATI-like phenotype resulted in a decrease of alpha 1- and an increase of alpha 2-mRNA and protein abundance without changes in the beta 1-subunit. Thus ATI-like cells exhibited a mixture of alpha 1- and alpha 2-isoforms. Nuclear run-on analysis suggests that these changes were transcriptionally regulated. The existence of the distinct functional classes of Na-K-ATPase in ATII and ATI-like cells was confirmed by ouabain inhibition of Na-K-ATPase activity. Ouabain inhibition of ATII cells was consistent with expression of the alpha 1-isozyme [50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 4 x 10(-5) M], whereas, in ATI-like cells, it was consistent with the presence of both alpha 1- and alpha 2-isozymes (IC50 = 9.0 x 10(-5) and 1.5 x 10(-7) M, respectively); [3H]ouabain binding studies corroborated these findings. Our results indicate that, during ATII cell cytodifferentiation with time in culture, there is a shift in isoform composition that may reflect physiological functions of alveolar epithelial cells.

Human ATP1AL1 gene encodes a ouabain-sensitive H-K-ATPase

The cDNA for ATP1AL1, the fifth member of the human Na-K-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase)/H-K-ATPase gene family, was recently cloned (A. V. Grishin, V. E. Sverdlov, M. B. Kostina, and N. N. Modyanov. FEBS Lett. 349: 144-150, 1994). The encoded protein (ATP1AL1) has all the primary structural features common to the catalytic alpha-subunit of ion-transporting P-type ATPases and is similar (63-64% identity) to the Na-K-ATPase alpha-subunit isoforms and the gastric H-K-ATPase alpha-subunit. In this study, ATP1AL1 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes in combination with the beta-subunit of rabbit gastric H-K-ATPase. The functional properties of the stable alpha/beta-complex were studied by 86Rb+ uptake and demonstrated that ATP1AL1 is a novel human K(+)-dependent ATPase [apparent half-constant activation/(K1/2) for K+ approximately 375 microM)]. ATP1AL1-mediated inward K+ transport was inhibited by ouabain (inhibition constant approximately 13 microM) and was found to be inhibited by high concentrations of SCH-28080 (approximately 70% at 500 microM). ATP1AL1 expression resulted in the alkalinization of the oocytes' cytoplasm and ouabain-sensitive proton extrusion, as measured with pH-sensitive microelectrodes. These data argue that ATP1AL1 is the catalytic alpha-subunit of a human nongastric P-type ATPase capable of exchanging extracellular potassium for intracellular protons.

Quantification of in vitro and in vivo energy metabolism of the gastrointestinal tract of fed or fasted sheep

The effect of level of nutrition on in vitro and in vivo O2 consumption by the gastrointestinal tract in four nonlactating, nonpregnant ewes catheterized in the anterior mesenteric vein, hepatic portal vein and mesenteric artery with duodenal cannulae was investigated. Animals were fed a pelleted ration at maintenance (M) or twice maintenance (2M) or fasted (F) subsequent to the M measurement. Duodenal in vitro O2, ouabain-sensitive O2 (OSO2) and cycloheximide-sensitive O2 (CSO2) consumption was determined polarographically using a YSI O2 monitor; whole-gut O2 consumption was determined as (arterio-venous difference of O2 concentration) × (blood flow through the PV). Whole-body O2 consumption was determined using indirect calorimetry. Ewes fed 2M exhibited higher (P < 0.10) whole-body O2 consumption than either M or F ewes. Ewes fed M and 2M had higher (P < 0.10) duodenal in vitro O2 and ouabain-insensitive O2 (OIO2) consumption than F ewes. Hepatic portal blood flow was directly proportional to level of intake (P < 0.10): it was lowest for F ewes (81.0 L h−1), intermediate for M ewes (97.7 L h−1) and highest for 2M ewes (122.5 L h−1). Ouabain inhibition of O2 consumption by portal-drained viscera (PDV) was highest in M ewes and lowest in 2M ewes (P < 0.10). CSO2 consumption by the entire PDV was not affected by level of intake, corresponding to no change in OIO2 consumption by the PDV. As a proportion of whole-body O2 consumption, total O2, OSO2 and cycloheximide-insensitive O2 consumption by the PDV was higher in F ewes than in 2M ewes (P < 0.10). Fasted ewes expended a greater proportion of whole-body O2 consumption on gastrointestinal energetics than did 2M ewes. Key words: Sheep, gastrointestinal oxygen consumption, sodium–potassium ATPase, protein synthesis

Basolateral membrane lipid dynamics alter Na–K ATPase activity in rabbit small intestine

The role of basolateral membrane fluidity in regulating Na–K ATPase activity along the crypt–villus axis in rabbit distal small intestine was assessed. Basolateral membranes were prepared from isolated villus and crypt enterocytes at 24- to 28-fold enhancement. Villus basolateral membranes were significantly (p < 0.001) more fluid than crypt basoiateral membranes as measured by 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene. No difference was seen between the two groups as measured by either 2-(9-anthroyloxy)-stearic fatty acid or 16-(9-anthroyloxy)-palmitic acid. Fluidity alterations were accompanied by an increased phospholipid content in villus membranes, which resulted in a decreased cholesterol:phospholipid ratio and an increased lipid:protein molar ratio. Na–K ATPase activity was significantly (p < 0.01) greater in villus basolateral membranes than in crypt membranes, and demonstrated a greater sensitivity to ouabain inhibition. Ouabain inhibition curves calculated from villus data fit well (p < 0.001) with a two binding site model, with a high affinity (Ki 16 nM) and a low affinity (Ki 4.2 μM) ouabain binding site. In crypt basolateral membranes, only a low affinity site was apparent (Ki 3.0 μM). Fluidizing crypt basolateral membranes in vitro with benzyl alcohol to levels seen in villus basolateral membranes resulted in the appearance of a high affinity ouabain binding site (Ki 110 nM) and an increased sensitivity of Na–K ATPase to ouabain inhibition. The fluidization of villus basolateral membranes eliminated the binding associated with the high affinity site. Treatment with methanol, as a control, did not alter Na–K ATPase activity. These results indicate that changes in basolateral membrane lipid dynamics may be involved in modulating Na–K ATPase activity and transport function.Key words:

Interactions between Ion Exchange and Metabolism in Erythrocytes of the Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss

Experiments were carried out to investigate the relationship between ion exchange and energy metabolism in rainbow trout erythrocytes in vitro. Under resting conditions, the sodium/potassium pump accounts for 20 % of the cellular energy budget. In the presence of the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol, however, this increases to 43 %. Inhibition of the sodium/potassium pump with ouabain results in greater increases in erythrocyte water content and sodium and chloride concentrations and a greater decrease in erythrocyte potassium concentration following stimulation by isoproterenol. Moreover, the decrease in erythrocyte NTP levels observed following adrenergic stimulation does not occur when the sodium/potassium pump is inhibited with ouabain. Inhibition of the sodium/potassium pump also abolishes the increase in oxygen consumption by the cells which normally takes place following adrenergic stimulation. Finally, depletion of erythrocyte NTP levels by the sodium ionophore monensin or by previous incubation with nitrogen does not result in a significant increase in oxygen consumption. Thus, catecholamines appear to be crucial for the metabolic-membrane coupling that occurs following adrenergic stimulation in rainbow trout erythrocytes.