title: Where have all the Na+ channels gone? In search of functional ENaC in exocrine pancreas.
abstract: Many epithelia express specific Na(+) channels (ENaC) together with the cystic fibrosis regulator (CFTR) Cl(-) channels. Pancreatic ducts secrete HCO(3)(-)-rich fluid and express CFTR. However, the question whether they possess ENaC has not been consistently addressed. The aim of the present study was to investigate if pancreatic ducts express functional ENaC. Membrane voltages (V) of ducts isolated from rat pancreas were measured with microelectrodes or whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Amiloride and benzamil given from bath or luminal sides did not hyperpolarize V. Lowering of extracellular Na(+) concentrations had effects that were not consistent with a simple Na(+) conductance, but rather with a Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange. Acute or long-lasting treatment of pancreatic ducts with mineralocorticoids had no effect on V of unstimulated or secretin-stimulated preparations. Furthermore, pre-treatment of animals with glucocorticoids had no effect on pancreatic fluid secretion evoked from ducts, or from acini. Hence, our study shows that pancreas especially pancreatic ducts do not express functional ENaC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoophysiology, August Krogh Institute, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. inovak@aki.ku.dk
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Mette R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000584:Amiloride / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008839:Microelectrodes; D008901:Mineralocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012633:Secretin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012844:Sincalide / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053503:Epithelial Sodium Channels; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008901:Mineralocorticoids; D015222:Sodium Channels; C013407:benzamil; D012633:Secretin; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D012844:Sincalide