title: Plasma membrane H(+)-HCO3- transport in rat hepatocytes: a principal role for Na(+)-coupled HCO3- transport.
abstract: Na(+)-coupled HCO3- transport has been demonstrated in the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes, but there is uncertainty regarding its stoichiometry or capacity compared with other mechanisms of H(+)-HCO3- transport. After preincubation in medium free of Na+, either in the presence or absence of HCO3(-)-CO2, rat hepatocytes in primary culture were reexposed to Na+ or HCO3(-)-CO2 alone or in combination. Transporter electrogenicity was assessed by measuring membrane potential difference (PD), and the relative capacities of Na(+)-coupled HCO3- transport, Cl(-)-HCO3- exchange, and Na(+)-H+ exchange were assessed by measuring the magnitude and rate of change of intracellular pH (pHi) using BCECF. In the absence of Na+, exposure to HCO3- alone had no consistent effect on PD or pHi. In the absence of HCO3-, reexposure to Na+ depolarized cells by 3 +/- 1 mV and caused an amiloride-inhibitable increase in pHi of 0.031 +/- 0.02 units/min. In the presence of HCO3-, reexposure to Na+ hyperpolarized cells by -14 +/- 5 mV and increased pHi at a rate of 0.133 +/- 0.11 units/min; both the hyperpolarization and alkalinization were inhibited by SITS but unaffected by amiloride. These changes in PD indicate that Na(+)-coupled HCO3- transport is electrogenic, consistent with coupling of more than one HCO3- to each Na+. Furthermore, SITS-inhibitable Na(+)-dependent alkalinization exceeds amiloride-inhibitable Na(+)-dependent alkalinization by an order of magnitude, suggesting that the transport capacity of Na(+)-coupled HCO3- transport exceeds that of Na(+)-H+ exchange.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fitz
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lidofsky
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Scharschmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D012964:Sodium