title: Two pathways for electrogenic bicarbonate ion movement across the rabbit corneal endothelium.
abstract: Amiloride (0.5 mM) inhibited the rate of entry of Na+ into corneal endothelial cells by more than half ((0.76 +/- 0.10) to (0.21 +/- 0.10) microEq cm(-2)h(-1)). The same concentration of amiloride caused only minimal disturbance to corneal hydration control by the endothelium (range 0-12%). Amiloride (0.5 mM) and acetazolamide (1 mM) reversibly inhibited trans-endothelial short circuit current by about a half. Their combined effect was not additive. Acetazolamide (1 mM) reduced net HCO3- flux across the short-circuited endothelium by about the same amount ((0.50 +/- 0.11) microEq cm(-2)h(-1)) that amiloride (0.5 mM) reduced Na+ entry into the cells ((0.55 +/- 0.14) microEq cm(-2)h(-1)). Low concentrations of amiloride (10 microM) had little effect on the transport characteristics of the endothelium, indicating that Na+ entry into the endothelial cells under physiological conditions is not primarily through Na+ channels. The data are consistent with an Na+/H+ exchanger acting in tandem with carbonic anhydrase through a pathway which could have a regulatory role on endothelial transport via its effect on Na+ re-entry. Residual trans-endothelial HCO3- transport, apparently unaffected by amiloride or acetazolamide inhibition, is calculated to be of sufficient magnitude to maintain corneal hydration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University of Wales, UK.wighamcg@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wigham
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ogbuehi
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hodson
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017136:Ion Transport; D011817:Rabbits; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D000086:Acetazolamide