title: Control of capillary hydraulic conductivity via membrane potential-dependent changes in Ca2+ influx.
abstract: Capillary permeability has been shown to be sensitive to the levels of intracellular calcium. We examined the role of membrane potential in the regulation of capillary water permeability by a Ca2+ leak mechanism. Repeated measures of Lp were taken in situ on individually perfused mesenteric capillaries of cerebrally pithed frogs (Rana pipiens). A rise in extracellular potassium ([K+]o) to 24 mM induced a 45% decrease in Lp (n = 20), whereas lowering [K+]o to 0.24 mM elevated Lp by twofold (n = 9). To investigate whether these changes in Lp were due specifically to changes in membrane potential and consequent changes in the driving force for Ca2+ influx, we performed the following experiments: 1) [K+]o was elevated while the product of [K+]o and extracellular chloride concentration [Cl-]o was kept constant, 2) [K+]o was elevated under nominally Ca(2+)-free conditions, 3) K+ leak was induced by addition of 10 microM valinomycin, and 4) Na(+)-K+ pump was blocked by 10 microM ouabain. A constant [K+]o [Cl-]o product did not prevent high K+ from lowering Lp. Nominally Ca(2+)-free conditions abolished the effect of high K+. Valinomycin mimicked the response to low K+, and ouabain failed to change Lp. The data from this study conform to the hypothesis that membrane potential is an important regulator of capillary barrier properties via changes in Ca2+ influx through leak channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia 65212.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Huxley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D011894:Rana pipiens; D014634:Valinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D014634:Valinomycin; D010042:Ouabain; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium