title: Amino acids as osmolytes in the retina.
abstract: Amino acids play a role as osmolytes during the regulatory volume decrease subsequent to hyposmotic swelling, but less is known about its role when swelling occurs in isosmotic conditions. In this work we examined the efflux of labelled GABA, taurine and glutamate (traced as D-aspartate) from the chick retina, after isosmotic swelling evoked by KCl-containing solutions, and compared its features to those in hyposmotic swelling. In both conditions, GABA and taurine efflux were more sensitive to swelling than glutamate, as assessed by the activation threshold and the amount released. The amino acid efflux in hyposmotic media was decreased by DIDS, tamoxifen and NPPB, agents acting as Cl channels blockers, which also inhibit the osmosensitive Cl efflux. The component associated with swelling in the KCl-stimulated efflux was assessed by the reduction observed when Cl is replaced by an impermeant anion, or by the influence of hyperosmotic media. GABA and taurine efflux exhibited a large swelling-dependent component, which was lower for D-aspartate. This component was markedly decreased by NPPB, but this was due to an effect of the blocker preventing swelling. These results suggest that the influx of Cl, acting as K counterion, which is responsible for cell swelling, occurs through a pathway sensitive to NPPB, similarly to that activated by hyposmolarity. This finding may be of interest in studies aiming at preventing the cell edema which occurs in a number of pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cell Physiology, Department of Biophysics, National University of Mexico, Mexico City. hpasante@ifisiol.unam.mx
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pasantes-Morales
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Ochoa de la Paz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Quesada
mesh_terms: D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009579:Nitrobenzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D009995:Osmosis; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D013654:Taurine / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018118:Chloride Channels; D009579:Nitrobenzoates; D013629:Tamoxifen; D013654:Taurine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C058176:5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D017878:4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid