Kinetic characteristics of 22Na transport in human and rat erythrocytes during cytoplasm acidification and cell compression

Under normal conditions (pH0 = 7.4, pHi = 7.1-7.2) amiloride, a Na+/H+ exchange inhibitor, does not influence Na+ intake by human and rat erythrocytes. Acidification of the cytoplasm (pHi approximately 6.4) is accompanied by the acceleration of 22Na intake, which is decreased after addition of 1 mM amiloride (by 50 and 80%, respectively). The Ki value of amiloride for human and rat erythrocytes is 30 and 250 microM, respectively. In rat erythrocytes the dependence of the rate of the delta pH-induced incorporation of 22Na on Na+ concentration is described by a saturation curve (K0.5 for Na0+ is approximately 40 mM), whereas in human erythrocytes it obeys the diffusion kinetics. These results suggest that the Na+/H+ exchange takes place in rat erythrocytes, but is absent in human erythrocytes. In rat erythrocytes the Na+/H+ exchange can be induced by cell compression which can be caused either by decreasing the KCl content (after addition of valinomycin) or by increasing the osmolarity of the medium (in the presence of sucrose). The rate of Na+/H+ exchange induced by cell compression is increased by 60-70% after addition of protein kinases A and C activators. No effect of intracellular Ca2+ on the rate of the Na+/H+ exchange in rat erythrocytes is observed.     

Na+/H+ exchange in erythrocytes of spontaneously hypertensive rats: a study in F2 SHR x WKY hybrids.

The rate of proton gradient-induced Na+/H+ exchange in the erythrocytes of SHR was increased by 50-60% as compared to WKY animals. No significant correlation between Na+/H+ exchange and blood pressure was revealed in F2 hybrids of SHR and WKY rats. Na+/H+ exchange rate in the erythrocytes of F2 SHR x WKY hybrids was twice as high as in SHR and three times higher than in WKY rats.     

Peptide hydra morphogen activates Na/H-exchange in human erythrocytes

The effect of peptide morphogen of hydra (PMH) on Na+/H+ exchange in human erythrocytes was studied. It was shown that this peptide leads to 2-7 fold activation of the rate of protons efflux from the human erythrocytes at concentration 100 nM. It was assumed, that peptide controls and regulates proliferation via the activation Na+/H+ exchange.     

Volume-dependent regulation of ion carriers in human and rat erythrocytes: role of cytoskeleton and protein phosphorylation

This study examines the effect of heat-induced cytoskeleton transitions and phosphoprotein phosphatase inhibitors on the activity of shrinkage-induced Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport and Na+/H+ exchange in rat erythrocytes and swelling-induced K+, Cl- cotransport in human and rat blood cells. Preincubation of human and rat erythrocytes at 49 degrees C drastically activated K+, Cl- cotransport and completely (rat) or partly (human) abolished its volume-dependent regulation. The same procedure did not affect basal activity of Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport but completely abolished its activation by shrinkage thus suggesting the involvement of a thermosensitive element of cytoskeleton network in the volume-dependent regulation of cotransporters. Both the shrinkage- and electrochemical proton gradient-induced Na+/H+ exchange was inhibited by the heat treatment to the same extent (50-70%), thus indicating the different signaling pathways involved in the activation of Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport and Na+/H+ exchange by cell shrinkage. This suggestion is in accordance with data on the different kinetics of volume-dependent activation and inactivation of these carriers as well as on their sensitivity to medium osmolality. Both swelling- and heat-induced increments of K+, Cl- cotransport activity were diminished by inhibitors of phosphoprotein phosphatases (okadaic acid and calyculin). In rat erythrocytes these compounds potentiate shrinkage-induced Na+/H+ exchange. On the contrary, neither basal nor shrinkage-induced Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport was affected by these compounds. Our results indicate a key role of cytoskeleton network in volume-dependent activation of K+, Cl- and Na+, K+, 2Cl- cotransport and the involvement of protein phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle in regulation of the activity of K+, Cl- cotransport and Na+/H+ exchange.     

Effect of complete protein 4.1R deficiency on ion transport properties of murine erythrocytes

Moderate hemolytic anemia, abnormal erythrocyte morphology (spherocytosis), and decreased membrane stability are observed in mice with complete deficiency of all erythroid protein 4.1 protein isoforms (4.1^–/–; Shi TS et al. J Clin Invest 103: 331, 1999). We have examined the effects of erythroid protein 4.1 (4.1R) deficiency on erythrocyte cation transport and volume regulation. 4.1^–/– mice exhibited erythrocyte dehydration that was associated with reduced cellular K and increased Na content. Increased Na permeability was observed in these mice, mostly mediated by Na/H exchange with normal Na-K pump and Na-K-2Cl cotransport activities. The Na/H exchange of 4.1^–/– erythrocytes was markedly activated by exposure to hypertonic conditions (18.2 ± 3.2 in 4.1^–/– vs. 9.8 ± 1.3 mmol/10¹³ cell x h in control mice), with an abnormal dependence on osmolality (EC₅₀ = 417 ± 42 in 4.1^–/– vs. 460 ± 35 mosmol/kgH₂O in control mice), suggestive of an upregulated functional state. While the affinity for internal protons was not altered (K_0.5 = 489.7 ± 0.7 vs. 537.0 ± 0.56 nM in control mice), the V_max of the H-induced Na/H exchange activity was markedly elevated in 4.1^–/– erythrocytes (V_max 91.47 ± 7.2 compared with 46.52 ± 5.4 mmol/10¹³ cell x h in control mice). Na/H exchange activation by okadaic acid was absent in 4.1^–/– erythrocytes. Altogether, these results suggest that erythroid protein 4.1 plays a major role in volume regulation and physiologically downregulates Na/H exchange in mouse erythrocytes. Upregulation of the Na/H exchange is an important contributor to the elevated cell Na content of 4.1^–/– erythrocytes. spherocytosis; cell Na; Na/H exchange     

Kinetic properties of sodium transport pathways in the river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis erythrocytes

To activate Na+/H+ exchange, intracellular pH (pHi) of erythrocytes of the river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis were changed from 6 to 8 using nigericin. The Na+/H+ exchanger activity was estimated from the values of amiloride-sensitive components of Na+ (22Na) inflow or of H+ outflow from erythrocytes. Kinetic parameters of the carrier functioning were determined by using Hill equation. Dependence of Na+ and H+ transport on pHi value is described by hyperbolic function with the Hill coefficient value (n) close to 1. Maximal rate of ion transport was within the limits of 9-10 mmol/l cells/min, and the H+ concentration producing the exchanger 50% activation amounted to 0.6-1.0 microM. Stimulation of H+ outcome from acidified erythrocytes (pHi 5.9) with increase of H+ concentration in the incubation medium is described by Hill equation with n value of 1.6. Concentration of Na+: for the semimaximal stimulation of H+ outcome amounted to 19 mM. The obtained results indicate the presence in lamprey erythrocytes of only one binding site for H+ from the cytoplasm side and the presence of positive cooperativity in Na+ binding from the extracellular side of the Na+/H+ exchanger. Its efflux from cells in the Na+ -free medium did not change at a 10-fold increase of H+ concentration in the incubation medium. The presented data indicate differences of kinetic properties of the lamprey erythrocyte Na+/H+ exchanger and of this carrier isoforms in mammalian cells. In intact erythrocytes the dependence of the amiloride-sensitive Na+ inflow on its concentration in the medium is described by Hill equation with n 1.5. The Na+ concentration producing the 50% transport activation amounted to 39 mM and was essentially higher as compared with that in acidified erythrocytes. These data confirm the concept of the presence of two amiloride-sensitive pathways of Na+ transport in lamprey erythrocytes.     

The control of Na+/H+ exchange by molecular oxygen in trout erythrocytes. A possible role of hemoglobin as a transducer

It has previously been shown that addition of catecholamines to a suspension of trout erythrocytes induces an enlargement of the cells owing to an uptake of NaCl mediated by a cAMP-dependent, amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchange. In this article, we show that the change in cell volume induced by catecholamines is much greater when the erythrocytes are incubated in N2 than when they are in O2. This difference is explained by an inhibition of the cAMP-dependent Na+/H+ exchange by O2. The inhibition is not reversed in cells incubated in O2 but poisoned with cyanide. It cannot be explained by a difference in the content of cAMP in O2 and in N2. In a CO atmosphere, in which the cells are anoxic, swelling and Na permeability are not increased as they are in N2: in CO, the cells behave as they do in O2. Moreover, cells previously exposed to CO and then put in an N2 atmosphere do not show the expected increase in Na+/H+ exchange. This strongly indicates that the binding of CO to hemoglobin, which persists during the subsequent exposure to N2, is the primary event responsible for the inhibition. As CO substitutes for O2 in binding to hemoglobin, the effect of O2 in the control of Na+/H+ exchange is probably explained by this interaction with heme. (Allen and McManus [1968. Biophysical Journal. 8:125a] previously described a similar effect of CO on passive Na permeability in duck red cells.) It is proposed that the hemoglobin, by interacting differently, according to its degree of oxygenation, with the cytoplasmic segment of band 3 protein, may influence some transport function, such as Na+/H+ exchange. The physiological significance of a control of Na+/H+ exchange by molecular O2 is discussed.     

Ion transport systems in erythrocyte membrane of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) as compared with normotensive rats of the Brown Norway (BN.lx) strain.

The activity of Na+, K(+)-ATPase in SHR erythrocytes treated with saponin is increased by 30-40% as compared to the Brown Norway (BN.lx) strain whereas the activity of Ca(2+)-ATPase is decreased by 20-30%. Passive permeability of SHR erythrocytes determined by 86Rb influx is increased by 20-30%. In the presence of orthovanadate erythrocytes of SHR accumulate 45Ca by 80% more than BN.lx red cells. There was no difference in Na+/H+ exchange between erythrocytes of SHR and BN.lx animals.     

Elevated Na+/H+ exchange in erythrocytes of patients with hypertension

The kinetics of proton efflux from erythrocytes with acidified cytoplasm (pHi 6.4) in a medium with pH 8.0 has been studied. The participation of the anion exchanger in this process was blocked by a stilbene disulfonic acid derivative. It was shown that the rate of Na+/H+ exchange (amiloride-inhibited component of proton efflux) is increased 2 fold. The addition of protein kinase C activator (1 microM of TPA) results in the increase of the rate of Na+/H+ exchange by 4 fold.     

Erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase: a major intracellular enzyme to regulate cellular sodium metabolism in chronic renal failure patients with diabetes and hypertension.

Changes in carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity have been associated with metabolic diseases like diabetes mellitus and hypertension. To explore the exchange of H+ for Na+ and 22Na+, the sodium pool, CA activity and H2O content in erythrocytes from the two groups of diabetic chronic renal failure (CRF) patients with and without hypertension before dialysis were studied. The results were compared with those from the normotensive controls. The CA activity was determined spectrophotometrically, the sodium pool by ouabain insensitive 22Na+ influx and the percent H2O content gravimetrically. The 22Na+ influx in CRF patients with hypertension was significantly higher (p less than 0.025) than in the normotensive CRF patients and the controls. The levels of CA activity (U/min/mL) and the percent H2O content were significantly different in the hypertensive and the normotensive CRF patients from the control group (2.24 +/- 0.69 and 67.11 +/- 1.33, 1.95 +/- 0.63 and 66.43 +/- 1.51, 1.44 +/- 0.07 and 63.61 +/- 1.72, respectively). The present study implies a relationship between the 22Na+ influx and CA activity in CRF patients with hypertension. The variation of CA activity may thus result in changes in H+ production and ultimately in the intracellular Na+ pool.     

Exchange of labeled bicarbonate and carbon dioxide with erythrocytes suspended in an elutriator

An elutriator was used to study exchange of labeled CO2 and bicarbonate with erythrocytes. Rabbit erythrocytes were suspended by centrifugation in a stream of fluid and exposed to transient injections of an extracellular indicator (125I-albumin or 22Na+), a water indicator (3H2O), and H14CO3- and/or 14CO2. Diffusion of indicators into erythrocytes was judged by comparison of initial concentrations of diffusible and extracellular indicators in the elutriator outflow. It was possible to conduct these experiments at normal hematocrits because any carbonic anhydrase released from erythrocytes by hemolysis was washed away in the elutriator flow, and ambient pH, PO2, and PCO2 were kept constant by the inflow of fresh fluid. Equilibration of HCO3- with erythrocytes was complete during the 7- to 10-s transit time through the chamber. After this exchange was irreversibly inhibited by the anion exchange inhibitor, DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid), addition of carbonic anhydrase (100 mg/dl) accelerated exchange, but acetazolamide (20 mg/dl) was without effect. These observations were consistent with the absence of carbonic anhydrase on the surface of the erythrocytes.     

Protein kinase C activity in erythrocytes in primary hypertension: regulation of cell shape and cation transport

Protein kinase C activity in the lysate of erythrocytes of patients with essential hypertension (EH) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was found to be increased by 1.6-2.0 times as compared with normotensive controls. Membrane cytoskeleton alterations observed in the erythrocytes of patients with EH and SHR were revealed in decreased average erythrocyte volume, increase of cup-shaped cell formation, and increase of basal phosphorylation of band 4.9 protein. In addition, the rate of Na(+)-H+ exchange in erythrocytes of EH patients and SHR was increased by 1.9-fold. In vitro treatment of erythrocytes of healthy donors and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) with protein kinase C activator (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) leads to similar changes of cell shape, cell volume, band 4.9 protein phosphorylation and Na(+)-H+ exchange, as well as to an increase of diS-C3-(5) fluorescence. It may be assumed that alterations of these parameters revealed in primary hypertension are caused by increased activity of protein kinase C.     

Activation of sodium transport in rat erythrocytes by inhibition of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A

Four structurally different protein phosphatases (PPs) inhibitors - fluoride, calyculin A, okadaic acid and cantharidin--were tested for their ability to modulate unidirectional Na(+) influx in rat red blood cells. Erythrocytes were incubated at 37 degrees C in isotonic and hypertonic media containing 1 mM ouabain and (22)Na in the absence or presence of PP inhibitors. Exposure of the cells to 20 mM fluoride or 50 nM calyculin A for 1 h under isosmotic conditions caused a significant stimulation of Na(+) influx, whereas addition of 200 microM cantharidin or 100 nM okadaic acid had no effect. After 2 h of treatment, however, all these PPs blockers significantly enhanced Na(+) transport in rat erythrocytes. Selective inhibitors of PP-1 and PP-2A types, calyculin A, cantharidin and okadaic acid, produced similar ( approximately 1.2-1.4-fold) stimulatory effects on Na(+) influx in the cells. Activation of Na(+) influx was unchanged with increasing calyculin A concentration from 50 to 200 nM. No additive stimulation of Na(+) influx was observed when the cells were treated with combination of 20 mM fluoride and 50 nM calyculin A. Na(+) influx induced by PPs blockers was inhibited by 1 mM amiloride and 200 muM bumetanide approximately in the equal extent, indicating the involvement of Na(+)/H(+) exchange and Na-K-2Cl cotransport in sodium transport through rat erythrocytes membrane. Activation of Na(+) transport in the cells induced by calyculin A and fluoride was associated with increase of intracellular Na(+) content. Shrinkage of the rat erythrocytes resulted in 2-fold activation of Na(+) influx. All tested PPs inhibitors additionally activated the Na(+) influx by 70-100% above basal shrinkage-induced level. Amiloride and bumetanide have diminished both the shrinkage-induced and PPs-inhibitors-induced Na(+) influxes. Thus, our observations clearly indicate that activities of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger and Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in rat erythrocytes are regulated by protein phosphatases and stimulated when protein dephosphorylation is inhibited.     

Catecholamine-induced transport systems in trout erythrocyte. Na+/H+ countertransport or NaCl cotransport?

It has previously been shown (Baroin, A., F. Garcia-Romeu, T. Lamarre, and R. Motais. 1984a, b. Journal of Physiology. 350:137, 356:21; Mahé, Y., F. Garcia-Romeu, and R. Motais. 1985. European Journal of Pharmacology. 116:199) that the addition of catecholamines to an isotonic suspension of nucleated red blood cells of the rainbow trout first stimulates a cAMP-dependent, amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchange. This stimulation seems to be transient. It is followed by a more permanent activation of a coupled entry of Na+ and Cl-, which is inhibited by amiloride but also by inhibitors of band 3 protein (DIDS, furosemide, niflumic acid). The coupled entry of Na+ and Cl- could therefore result from the parallel and simultaneous exchange of Na+out for H+in (via the cAMP-dependent Na+/H+ antiporter) and Cl- out for HCO3- in (via the anion exchange system located in band 3 protein). However, in view of the following arguments, it had been proposed that NaCl uptake does not proceed by the double-exchanger system but via an NaCl cotransport: (a) Na+ entry requires Cl- as anion (in NO3- medium, the Na uptake is strongly inhibited, whereas NO3- is an extremely effective substitute for Cl- in the anion exchange system); (b) Na uptake is not significantly affected by the presence of HCO3- in the suspension medium despite the fact that in red cells, Cl-/HCO3- exchange occurs more readily than the exchanges of Cl- for basic equivalents in a theoretically CO2-free medium (the so-called Cl-/OH- exchanges). The purpose of the present paper was a reassessment of the two models by using monensin, an ionophore allowing Na+/H+ exchange. From this study, it appears that NaCl entry results from the simultaneous functioning of the Na+/H+ antiporter and the anion exchange system. The apparent Cl dependence is explained by the fact that, in these erythrocytes, NO3- clearly inhibits the turnover rate of the Na+/H+ antiporter. As Na+/H+ exchange is the driving component in the salt uptake process, this inhibition explains the Cl requirement for Na entry. The lack of stimulation of cell swelling by bicarbonate is explained by the fact that the rate of anion exchange in a CO2-free medium (Cl-/OH- exchange) is roughly equivalent to that of Na+/H+ exchange and thus in practice is not limiting to the net influx of NaCl through the two exchangers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Hypotonic swelling activates the Na*/H* exchange in rat brain synaptosomes

The influence of hypotonic swelling and hypertonic shrinking on cytosolic pH in synaptosomes was investigated. It was shown that decreasing the osmolarity of incubation medium to 230 mOsm leads to alkalization and increasing the osmolarity of incubation medium to 810 mOsm leads to acidification. Alkalization was inhibited by amiloride, indicating the involvement of the Na+/H+ exchanger. The acidification of cytosol upon hypertonic shrinking was insensitive, to amiloride and the inhibitor of Na+, K+, Cl- cotransport bumetanide. Thus, the Na+/H+ exchange in synaptosomes is activated by hypotonic swelling but not hypertonic shrinking, in contrast with erythrocytes and lymphocytes, which have been investigated earlier.     

Estimation of the number and turnover rate of Na+/H+ exchangers in lymphocytes. Effect of phorbol ester and osmotic shrinking

Rat thymic lymphocytes possess an amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger in their plasma membrane. Kinetic studies revealed that 5-(N-methyl-N-isobutyl)amiloride (MIA) was a more potent inhibitor of the antiport than amiloride (cf. apparent Ki of 174 nM and 6 microM, respectively). Inhibition by MIA was rapid (less than 5 s) and readily reversible. [3H]MIA binding to whole cells was assayed by rapid centrifugation following short (5 s) incubations to minimize nonspecific binding. A saturable binding component (Kd approximately equal to 170 nM) which was displaced by amiloride was detected. In contrast, there was no significant amiloride-displaceable binding to human erythrocytes, which have comparatively little Na+/H+ exchange activity. In lymphocytes, the ability of amiloride and several of its analogs to displace [3H]MIA correlated with their potency as inhibitors of the antiport. Both kinetic and binding studies revealed that extracellular H+, but not Na+, inhibited the interaction of MIA with its receptor(s). Taken together, these data suggest that [3H]MIA binds to the Na+/H+ exchanger. Scatchard analysis revealed that [3H]MIA bound to a maximum of 8000 high affinity sites/cell. Activation of Na+/H+ exchange by osmotic shrinking or by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate was not accompanied by a significant change in [3H]MIA binding. Given an upper limit of 8000 functional sites/thymocyte, we estimate that the turnover number of each maximally activated exchanger is at least 2000 cycles/s.     

Amiloride-sensitive sodium transport in lamprey red blood cells: evidence for two distinct transport pathways

To determine Na+/H+ exchange in lamprey erythrocyte membranes, the cells were acidified to pH(i) 6.0 using the K+/H+ ionophore nigericin. Incubation of acidified erythrocytes in a NaCl medium at pH 8.0 caused a considerable rise in 22Na+ influx and H+ efflux during the first 1 min of exposure. In addition, exposure of acidified red cells to NaCl medium was associated with rapid elevation of intracellular Na+ content. The acid-induced changes in Na+ influx and H+ efflux were almost completely inhibited by amiloride and dimethylamiloride. In native lamprey erythrocytes, amiloride-sensitive Na+ influx progressively increased as the osmolality of incubation medium was increased by addition of 100, 200, or 300 mmol/l sucrose. Unexpectedly, the hypertonic stress induced a small, yet statistically significant decrease in intracellular Na+ content in these cells. The reduction in the cellular Na+ content increased with hypertonicity of the medium. The acid- and shrinkage-induced Na+ influxes were inhibited by both amiloride and 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA) in a dose-dependent manner. For both blockers, the half-maximal inhibitory values (IC50) were much greater for the shrinkage-induced (44 and 15 micromol/l for amiloride and EIPA, respectively) than for the acid-induced Na+ influx (5.1 and 3.3 micromol/l, respectively). The data obtained are the first demonstration of the presence of a Na+/H+ exchanger with high activity in acidified (pH(i) 6.0) lamprey red blood cells (on average, 512 +/- 56 mmol/l cells/h, n = 13). The amiloride-sensitive Na+ influxes produced by hypertonic cell shrinkage and acid load are likely to be mediated by distinct ion transporters in these cells.     

Activation of Na/H Exchange in Erythrocytes of Frog Rana ridibunda

Transport of Na⁺ in isolated erythrocytes of the frog Rana ridibunda was studied using radioactive isotope ^{22 22}Na. Treatment of erythrocytes with -adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (ISP) or with a combination of ISP and phosphodiesterase blocker 3-isobutyl-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) did not affect the Na⁺ transport into the cells. These data indicated that cAMP-dependent protein kinase A did not participate in regulation of the Na⁺ transport into the frog erythrocytes. Incubation of erythrocytes with protein kinase C activator phorbol ester (PMA, 0.15 µM) led to a pronounced increase of ^{22 22}Na accumulation and intracellular Na⁺ concentration. These changes of the Na⁺ transport into the cells were completely blocked in the presence of 50 µM ethyl-isopropyl-amiloride (EIPA), a selective blocker of the NHE1-isoform of Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger. Hence, PMA produced activation of Na⁺/H⁺ exchange in frog erythrocytes. The unidirectional Na⁺ influx into erythrocytes amounted, on average, to 0.99 ± 0.12 and 147 ± 9 mmol/l cells/h for control and PMA-treated cells, respectively. The EIPA concentration producing a 50% inhibition of the PMA-induced Na⁺ influx (IC₅₀) was 0.28 µM. A high sensitivity of the frog Na/H exchanger to EIPA indicates its similarity with the mammalian NHE1 isoform. The obtained data for the first time clearly indicate an important role of PKC in Na/H exchange regulation in the frog red blood cells.     

The toxic function of cesium 5-sulfosalicylate based on the investigation of its trans-erythrocytes membrane behaviors and morphological properties

In order to evaluate the cesium-induced toxic functional changes in organisms, transmembrane activities of cesium 5-sulfosalicylate (Cs(H(2)Ssal)) into human erythrocyte in vitro is presented in this paper, including kinetic characteristic of transport process and pathways involved in it. The uptake amount of Cs(H(2)Ssal) by erythrocyte was determined both by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS) and spectrofluorimetry. The pathways of Cs(H(2)Ssal) transporting into erythrocyte are proposed according to inhibition investigation. The influence of Cs(H(2)Ssal) on morphological properties of erythrocytes was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to determined the endurable concentration extent of erythrocytes to Cs(H(2)Ssal). Results show that transmembrane of Cs(H(2)Ssal) has characteristic of first-order kinetic process during the first 2h, and four pathways were involved in its transporting activities: Ca(2+) channel, Na(+)-K(+) pump, Na(+)-Cs(+) countertransport, and anion Cl(-)/CsCO(3)(-) exchange. The transmembrane process of Cs(H(2)Ssal) can both prevent the uptake of K(+) and induces abnormal accumulation of extracellular K(+) as well as occupy some K(+)-binding sites in protein, causing some tissues losing their activities and functions. Only high concentrations of Cs(H(2)Ssal) could change morphological properties of erythrocytes greatly and cause hemolysis eventually.     

Nerve growth factor inhibits HCO3- absorption in renal thick ascending limb through inhibition of basolateral membrane Na+/H+ exchange

Nerve growth factor (NGF) inhibits transepithelial HCO3- absorption in the rat medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL). To investigate the mechanism of this inhibition, MTALs were perfused in vitro in Na+-free solutions, and apical and basolateral membrane Na+/H+ exchange activities were determined from rates of pHi recovery after lumen or bath Na+ addition. NGF (0.7 nM in the bath) had no effect on apical Na+/H+ exchange activity, but inhibited basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity by 50%. Inhibition of basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity with ethylisopropyl amiloride (EIPA) secondarily reduces apical Na+/H+ exchange activity and HCO3- absorption in the MTAL (Good, D. W., George, T., and Watts, B. A., III (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 92, 12525-12529). To determine whether a similar mechanism could explain inhibition of HCO3- absorption by NGF, apical Na+/H+ exchange activity was assessed in physiological solutions (146 mM Na+) by measurement of the initial rate of cell acidification after lumen EIPA addition. Under these conditions, in which basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity is present, NGF inhibited apical Na+/H+ exchange activity. Inhibition of HCO3- absorption by NGF was eliminated in the presence of bath EIPA or in the absence of bath Na+. Also, NGF blocked inhibition of HCO3- absorption by bath EIPA. We conclude that NGF inhibits basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity in the MTAL, an effect opposite from the stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange by growth factors in other systems. NGF inhibits transepithelial HCO3- absorption through inhibition of basolateral Na+/H+ exchange, most likely as the result of functional coupling in which primary inhibition of basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity results secondarily in inhibition of apical Na+/H+ exchange activity. These findings establish a role for basolateral Na+/H+ exchange in the regulation of renal tubule HCO3- absorption.