Interaction between carbachol and vasoactive intestinal peptide in cells of isolated colonic crypts

In a previous study [B. Biagi, Y.-Z. Wang, and H. J. Cooke, Am. J. Physiol. 258 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 21): G223-G230, 1990], carbachol stimulated active chloride transport in rabbit distal colon, yet had no effect on the basolateral membrane potential (Vbl) of cells from isolated crypts from the same tissue. In the present study, crypt cells were first depolarized with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP; 1 x 10(-9) M) (control Vbl = -62 mV; VIP Vbl = -48 mV) and then exposed to carbachol in the presence of VIP. The VIP-induced depolarization of Vbl was completely reversed by carbachol (0.1 mM; repolarization to -65 mV). Similar repolarization was seen by applying carbachol to crypt cells depolarized by 10 mM aminophylline. Intracellular K+ activity (aiK), measured with K(+)-selective microelectrodes, was 64.3 mM (concn = 85 mM), yielding a K+ equilibrium potential (EK+) of -76 mV. Neither carbachol nor VIP application caused significant changes in aiK. These results demonstrate the presence of cholinergic receptors on colonic crypt cells. The magnitude of the carbachol effect on Vbl is greater when Vbl is depolarized relative to EK+. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that carbachol acts by increasing basolateral K+ conductance, driving the cell toward the EK+.

Basal membrane uptake in potassium-secreting cells of midgut of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)

Basal membrane voltage (Vb), intracellular K+ activity [(K+)i], and short-circuit current (Isc) were measured in isolated posterior midguts of Manduca sexta wherein Isc is a measured of active secretion of K+ from blood into lumen. When bathed in 32 mM K+ and exposed to 100% O2, average values were Isc = 244 microAmp/cm2, Vb = -33.1 mV, and (K+)i = 88.6 mM. The electrochemical gradient across the basal membrane (d mu) averaged +5.8 mV (a gradient favorable for K+ entry). Exposure to 5% O2 led to a new steady state in which Isc = 71 microAmp/cm2, Vb = -18.7 mV, and (K+)i = 99.4 mM. During hypoxia, d mu averaged -9.9 mV (a gradient unfavorable for K+ entry). When the external bathing solution was 10 mM K+, comparable values were, for 100% O2, Isc = 139 microAmp/cm2, Vb = -56.1 mV, (K+)i = 72.2 mM, and d mu = +3.6 mV, and in 5% O2 the values were Isc = 28.3 microAmp/cm2, Vb = -43.7 mV, (K+)i = 76.1 mM, and d mu = -10.2 mV. The failure of cellular K+ to fall during prolonged hypoxia is evidence for a thermodynamically active basal K+ uptake process.

K activity of CCD principal cells from normal and DOCA-treated rabbits

We used liquid ion exchanger and conventional microelectrodes to evaluate the effects of mineralocorticoids on the intracellular K activity (aiK) and K transport properties of principal cells (PC) of isolated cortical collecting ducts (CCDs). Hoffman modulation optics and electrophysiological methods were used to identify PC. K activity was measured with two single-barreled electrodes. We found that aiK of PC from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-treated rabbits (97.6 mM) was not different from controls (94.8 mM). The driving forces for K transport across the basolateral membrane favored cell to bath (reabsorption) in PCs from controls and bath to cell (secretion) in PCs from DOCA-treated rabbits. However, the driving force for K secretion across the apical membrane was not significantly different between the two groups. We used the intracellular aiKs and bath ion substitutions (gluconate for Cl and K for Na) to evaluate the effects of DOCA on the ion-selective properties of the basolateral membrane of PC. DOCA increased PK/PCl from 0.33 to 0.89. Our conclusion was as follows: in PC of control rabbits K is above electrochemical equilibrium across the basolateral membrane. However, the basolateral K conductance is probably too small for significant K recycling. In PC of DOCA-treated rabbits the aiK is below electrochemical equilibrium across the basolateral membrane and the K conductance is increased. These effects enhance K secretion across this border while maintaining cell K constant.

Quantitative analysis of resting membrane electrogenesis in insect (diptera) skeletal muscle. I. Intracellular K+, Na+ and Cl- activities, measured using liquid ion-exchanger and neutral ion-carrier microelectrodes

Electrophysiological properties of skeletal body-wall muscles of prepupal Calliphora erythrocephala were investigated using double-barrelled intracellular ion-sensitive microelectrodes. The most realistic estimate of the intracellular K+ activity, obtained using K+-sensitive microelectrodes based on a neutral carrier, was 115 mmoll-1. The K+ equilibrium potential was consistently more negative than the prevailing resting potential, the average difference being −15 mV. The intracellular Na+ activity and the Na+ equilibrium potential were 7 mmoll-1 and +46 mV on average, respectively. The mean value of the intracellular Cl- activity was 40 mmoll-1, and this was apparently higher than that required for passive distribution of Cl-. However, when reversibly exposed to a Ringer containing no Cl-, cells could rapidly exchange most of their intracellular Cl-, although the resting membrane potentials were only transiently affected. It is concluded that an anionic interferent exists inside muscles, that this artefactually elevates the measured intracellular Cl- activities, and that Cl- makes no contribution to resting membrane electrogenesis.