Ion-transport in the intestine of Anguilla-anguilla: gradients and translocators

The transport of Na+, K+ and Cl2 across the isolated epithelium of the eel intestine was studied using a combination of four experimental strategies: short-circuiting, measurements of intracellular potentials and ion concentrations, application of a variety of transport inhibitors and measurement of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: P. Marvão, M. G. Emílio, K. Gil Ferreira, P. L. Fernandes, H. Gil Ferreira
Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1994
Subjects:
Online Access:http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.531.653
http://jeb.biologists.org/content/193/1/97.full.pdf
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Summary:The transport of Na+, K+ and Cl2 across the isolated epithelium of the eel intestine was studied using a combination of four experimental strategies: short-circuiting, measurements of intracellular potentials and ion concentrations, application of a variety of transport inhibitors and measurement of unidirectional fluxes with radioactive tracers. When short-circuited, the system performs a net transport of Cl2 and Na+ towards the blood side, with a stoichiometry approaching 2, and a much smaller net transport of K+ towards the lumen. The system is totally driven by the sodium pump located in the basolateral barrier and the main coupling between the fluxes of the three ions is through the operation of a furosemide-sensitive transporter in the apical barrier, probably a 2Cl2/Na+/K+ symporter. The inhibitory effect of DIDS and picrylsulphonic acid on the short-circuit current, when added to the serosal side, suggests the presence of a sodium-dependent anionic shuttle located in the basolateral membrane. The short-circuit current is inhibited by H25, a non-specific inhibitor of the K+/Cl2 symport, added to the serosal side. This effect occurs after a delay of at least 5 min and may result from the diffusion of the drug to the apical barrier, where it blocks the 2Cl2/Na+/K+ symport with much higher affinity.