title: Intracellular pH regulation in rat Schwann cells.
abstract: We examined H+ and HCO3- transport mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of intracellular pH of Schwann cells. Primary cultures of Schwann cells were prepared from the sciatic nerves of 1-3-day-old rats. pHi of single cells attached to cover slips was continuously monitored by measuring the absorbance spectra of the pH-sensitive dye dimethylcarboxyfluorescein incorporated intracellularly. The average pHi of neonatal Schwann cells bathed in HEPES mammalian solution was 7.17 +/- 0.02 (n = 32). In the nominal absence of HCO3-, pHi spontaneously recovered from an acute acid load induced by exposing the Schwann cells to 20 mM NH4+ (NH4+ prepulse). This pHi recovery from the acute acid load was totally inhibited in the absence of external Na+ or in the presence of 1 mM amiloride. In both cases, the pHi recovery was readily restored upon readdition of external Na+ or removal of amiloride. In the steady-state, addition of amiloride caused a small and slow decrease in pHi which was readily reversed upon removal of amiloride. In the presence of HCO3-, removal of external Cl- caused pHi to rapidly and reversibly increase by 0.23 +/- 0.03 (n = 15) and the initial rate of alkalinization was 20.6 +/- 2.7 x 10(-4) pH/sec. In the absence of external Na+, removal of bath Cl- still caused pHi to increase by 0.15 +/- 0.02 and the initial rate of pHi increase was not significantly altered. In the nominal absence of HCO3-, removal of bath Cl- caused pHi to increase very slightly (0.05 +/- 0.01) with an initial dpHi/dt of only 4.4 +/- 0.2 x 10(-4) pH/sec (n = 4). Addition of 100 microM DIDS did not inhibit the pHi increase caused by removal of bath Cl-. These data indicate that 1) Rat Schwann cells regulate their pHi via an Na-H exchange mechanism which is moderately active at steady-state pHi. 2) In the presence of HCO3-, there is a Na-independent Cl-HCO3 (base) exchanger which also contributes to regulation of intracellular pH in Schwann cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4354.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Nakhoul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdulnour-Nakhoul
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Khuri
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Hargittai
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017920:Antiporters / Q000378:metabolism; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D027963:Chloride-Bicarbonate Antiporters; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006531:HEPES / Q000494:pharmacology; D006706:Homeostasis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000166:cytology; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D017920:Antiporters; D001639:Bicarbonates; D027963:Chloride-Bicarbonate Antiporters; D002712:Chlorides; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D017923:Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; D006531:HEPES