title: Volume-sensitive chloride currents in primary cultures of human fetal vas deferens epithelial cells.
abstract: Using the patch-clamp technique, we have identified a large, outwardly rectifying, Cl--selective whole-cell current in primary cultures of human vas deferens epithelial cells. Whole-cell currents were time- and voltage-dependent and displayed inactivation following depolarising pulses >/= 60 mV. Currents were equally permeable to bromide (PBr/PCl = 1.05 +/- 0.04), iodide (PI/PCl = 1. 06 +/- 0.07) and Cl-, but significantly less permeable to gluconate (PGluc /PCl = 0.23 +/- 0.03). Currents spontaneously increased with time after establishing a whole-cell recording, but could be inhibited by exposure to a hypertonic bath solution which reduced inward currents by 68 +/- 4%. Subsequent exposure of the cells to a hypotonic bath solution led to a 418 +/- 110% increase in inward current, indicating that these currents are regulated by osmolarity. 4,4'-Diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (100 microM) produced a rapid and reversible voltage-dependent block (60 +/- 5% and 10 +/- 7% inhibition of current, measured at +/- 60 mV, respectively). Dideoxyforskolin (50 microM) also reduced the volume-sensitive Cl- current, but with a much slower time course, by 41 +/- 13% and 32 +/- 16% (measured at +/- 60 mV, respectively). Tamoxifen (10 microM) had no effect on the whole-cell Cl- current. These results suggest that vas deferens epithelial cells possess a volume-sensitive Cl- conductance which has biophysical and pharmacological properties broadly similar to volume-sensitive Cl- currents previously described in a variety of cell types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, University Medical School, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Winpenny
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Verdon
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wardle
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Argent
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gray
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D001965:Bromides / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D005576:Colforsin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005942:Gluconates / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001965:Bromides; D018118:Chloride Channels; D005942:Gluconates; D013629:Tamoxifen; D005576:Colforsin; D000242:Cyclic AMP; C047983:1,9-dideoxyforskolin; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid; C030691:gluconic acid; D002118:Calcium