title: Intracellular pH and its regulation in isolated type I carotid body cells of the neonatal rat.
abstract: 1. The dual-emission pH-sensitive fluoroprobe carboxy-SNARF-1 (carboxy-seminaptharhodofluor) was used to measure pHi in type I cells enzymically dispersed from the neonatal rat carotid body. 2. Steady-state pHi in cells bathed in a HEPES-buffered Tyrode solution (pH 7.4) was found to be remarkably alkaline (pHi = 7.77) whereas cells bathed in a CO2-HCO3(-)-buffered Tyrode solution (pH 7.4) had a more 'normal' pHi (pHi = 7.28). These observations were further substantiated by using an independent nullpoint test method to determine pHi. 3. Intracellular intrinsic buffering (beta, determined by acidifying the cell using an NH4Cl pre-pulse) was in the range 7-20 mM per pH unit and appeared to be dependent upon pHi with beta increasing as pHi decreased. 4. In cells bathed in a HEPES-buffered Tyrode solution, pHi recovery from an induced intracellular acid load (10 mM-NH4Cl pre-pulse) was inhibited by the Na(+)-H+ exchange inhibitor ethyl isopropyl amiloride (EIPA; 150 microM) or substitution of Nao+ with N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMG). Both EIPA and Nao+ removal also caused a rapid intracellular acidification, which in the case of Nao+ removal, was readily reversible. The rate of this acidification was similar for both Nao+ removal and EIPA addition. 5. Transferring cells from a HEPES-buffered Tyrode solution to one buffered with 5% CO2-HCO3- resulted in an intracellular acidification which was partially, or wholly, sustained. The rate of acidification upon transfer to CO2-HCO3- was considerably slowed by the membrane permeant carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide, thus indicating the presence of the enzyme in these cells. 6. In CO2-HCO3(-)-buffered Tyrode solution, pHi recovery from an intracellular acidosis (NH4+ pre-pulse) was only partially inhibited by EIPA or amiloride whereas Nao+ removal completely inhibited the recovery. The stilbene DIDS (4,4-diisothiocyanatostilbenedisulphonic acid, 200 microM) also partially inhibited pHi recovery following an induced intracellular acidosis. Furthermore, the pre-treatment with 200 microM-DIDS of a pre-acidified cell in Na(+)-free Tyrode solution completely inhibited pHi recovery when Nao+ was reintroduced together with concomitant addition of 150 microM-EIPA. We conclude, that in the presence of CO2-HCO3-, a Na(+)- and HCO3-dependent (DIDS inhibitable) mechanism aids acid extrusion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Buckler
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Vaughan-Jones
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peers
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Nye
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism; D002021:Buffers; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008536:Meglumine / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D002021:Buffers; D012856:4-Acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic Acid; D008536:Meglumine; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; C039614:ethylisopropylamiloride