title: Interference of a short-chain phospholipid with ion transport pathways in frog skin.
abstract: The effects of mucosal application of the short-chain phospholipid didecanoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DDPC; with two saturated 10-carbon acyl chains) on active Na+ transport and transepithelial conductance (G) in the frog skin (Rana temporaria) were investigated. Active Na+ transport was measured as the amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current (ISC) and G was determined from transepithelial voltage-clamp pulses under short-circuit conditions. DDPC dose-dependently inhibited ISC with an ID50 of about 0.05% (w/v) and a maximal effect ( approximately 55%) at >/= 1% DDPC. G increased to steady-state values above control level. Simultaneously, equal increases in unidirectional sucrose permeabilities (PSu; measured from [14C]sucrose fluxes) were observed, and a positive correlation was demonstrated between DDPC-induced changes in PSu and G. Since amiloride did not prevent the increase in G by DDPC, these results suggest that the DDPC-induced increase in G represents an increase in the paracellular shunt conductance. The effects of mucosal DDPC were almost fully reversible within 8 h. The results indicate that DDPC inhibits amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels in the apical membrane of the frog skin epithelium and opens a paracellular tight junction pathway. Both effects may be caused by incorporation of DDPC in the apical cell membrane.
authors.affiliation: Zoophysiological Laboratory, The August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, 13 Universitetsparken, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Unmack
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Willumsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017136:Ion Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011896:Rana temporaria; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D026941:Sodium Channel Blockers; D015222:Sodium Channels; C015132:1,2-didecanoylphosphatidylcholine; D013395:Sucrose; D012964:Sodium