title: pHi regulation in frog retinal pigment epithelium: two apical membrane mechanisms.
abstract: This study demonstrates that the apical membrane of frog retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) contains two intracellular pH (pHi) regulatory mechanisms, an electrogenic Na-HCO3 cotransporter blocked by DIDS and an amiloride-inhibitable Na-H antiporter. pHi was studied using the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). In these cells resting pHi equals 7.26 +/- 0.09 (n = 58). After an acid load (NH4Cl prepulse), pHi recovery required apical extracellular Na concentration ([Na]o) in HCO3 or HCO3-free Ringer. In HCO3 Ringer recovery was completely blocked by 1 mM apical DIDS (n = 5) but was not affected by absence of Cl. In HCO3-free Ringer, recovery was completely blocked by 1 mM apical amiloride (n = 3). At resting pHi, the intrinsic pH-buffering capacity of the cell is approximately 7.1 mM/pH and rises monotonically as pHi decreases. In HCO3 Ringer, the initial rate of acidification caused by apical Na removal, 0.39 +/- 0.03 pH/min (n = 26), was 80-90% inhibited by apical DIDS (n = 5) and 16% inhibited by 1 mM apical amiloride (n = 7), but not affected by absence of Cl. In HCO3 Ringer, initial rates of acidification induced by apical DIDS or amiloride were 0.11 +/- 0.06 (n = 5) and 0.03 +/- 0.02 pH/min (n = 7), respectively. These results indicate that the Na-HCO3 cotransporter accounts for 80-90% of the acid extrusion from frog RPE cells. Increasing apical [K]o from 2 to 5 mM approximates the in vivo apical [K]o changes during a light-dark transition and alkalinizes the cells. [K]o-induced alkalinization had an initial rate of 0.11 +/- 0.02 pH/min (n = 16), which was approximately 75% inhibited by apical DIDS (to 0.04 +/- 0.01 pH/min, n = 7) and completely blocked by HCO3/CO2 removal from both bathing solutions. [K]o-induced pHi changes alter RPE transport mechanisms and may affect RPE-photoreceptor interactions.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000641:Ammonia; D000818:Animals; D002021:Buffers; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000502:physiology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000502:physiology; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid; D000641:Ammonia; D000077331:Ringer's Solution; D012964:Sodium; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D011188:Potassium