title: Aldosterone-controlled linkage between Na+/H+ exchange and K+ channels in fused renal epithelial cells.
abstract: Aldosterone maintains acid-base balance and K+ homeostasis by controlling H+ and K+ secretion in renal epithelial cells. We have shown recently in the amphibian distal nephron that aldosterone activates a Na+/H+ exchange system in the luminal cell membrane, leading to transepithelial H+ secretion and cytoplasmic alkalinization. Since H+ secretory fluxes are paralleled by K+ secretion, it was postulated that the hormone-induced increase of intracellular pH activates the luminally located K+ channels. In 'giant' cells fused from individual cells of the distal nephron, we measured simultaneously cytoplasmic pH and cell membrane K+ conductance during acidification of the cell cytoplasm. The experiments demonstrate that cell membrane K+ conductance is half-maximal at an intracellular pH of 7.42, and that a positive cooperative interaction exists between K+ channel proteins and H+ ions (Hill coefficient = 6.5). Moreover, the cellular K+ conductance is most sensitive to cytoplasmic pH in the range modified by aldosterone. This supports the hypothesis that intracellular H+ activity, regulated by the Na+/H+ exchanger, serves as the signal to couple aldosterone-induced K+ secretory flux to H+ secretion in renal tubules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oberleithner
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kersting
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gassner
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011522:Protons; D011894:Rana pipiens; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011522:Protons; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D000450:Aldosterone; D002118:Calcium