Cytoplasmic pH Responses to Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors in Cultured Rabbit Nonpigmented Ciliary Epithelium

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors lower the rate of aqueous humor (AH) secretion into the eye. Different CA isozymes might play different roles in the response. Here we have studied the effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors on cytoplasmic pH (pH _i ) regulation, using a dextran-bound CA inhibitor (DBI) to selectively inhibit membrane-associated CA in a cell line derived from rabbit NPE. pH _i was measured using the fluorescent dye BCECF and the pH _i responses to the cell permeable CA inhibitor acetazolamide (ACTZ) and DBI were compared. ACTZ markedly inhibited the rapid pH _i changes elicited by bicarbonate/CO₂ removal and readdition but DBI was ineffective in this respect, consistent with the inability of DBI to enter the cell and inhibit cytoplasmic CA isozymes. Added alone, ACTZ and DBI caused a similar reduction (0.2 pH units) of baseline pH _i . We considered whether CA-IV might facilitate H⁺ extrusion via Na-H exchange. The Na-H exchanger inhibitor amiloride (1 mm) reduced pH _i 0.52 ± 0.10 pH units. In the presence of DBI, the magnitude of pH _i reduction caused by amiloride was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced to 0.26 ± 0.09 pH units. ACTZ similarly reduced the magnitude of the pH _i reduction. DBI also reduced by ∼40% the rate of pH _i recovery in cells acidified by an ammonium chloride (20 mm) prepulse; a reduction in pH _i recovery rate was also caused by ACTZ and amiloride. DBI failed to alter the pH _i alkalinization response caused by elevating external potassium concentration, a response insensitive to amiloride but sensitive to ACTZ. These observations are consistent with a reduction in Na-H exchanger activity in the presence of DBI or ACTZ. We suggest that the CA-IV isozyme might catalyze rapid equilibration of H⁺ and HCO⁻ ₃ with CO₂ in the unstirred layer outside the plasma membrane, preventing local accumulation of H⁺ which competes with sodium for the same external Na-H exchanger binding site. Inhibition of CA-IV could produce pH _i changes that might alter the function of other ion transporters and channels in the NPE. Received: 24 April 1997/Revised: 4 November 1997     

Diphenyleneiodonium induces ROS-independent p53 expression and apoptosis in human RPE cells

The diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) is widely used as an inhibitor of flavoenzymes, particularly NADPH oxidase. In this study, we investigated the effect of DPI on the apoptosis of human RPE cells. DPI treatment in ARPE-19 cells evoked a dose- and time-dependent growth inhibition, and also induced DNA fragmentation and protein content of the proapoptotic factor Bax. In addition, DPI significantly induced the expression and phosphorylation of p53, which induces proapoptotic genes in response to DNA damage or irreparable cell cycle arrest. ROS have been implicated as a key factor in the activation of p53 by many chemotherapeutic drugs. Recent data on the regulation of intracellular ROS by DPI are controversial. Therefore, we analyzed whether DPI could contribute to the generation of intracellular ROS. Although there was increase in ROS level from cells treated for 24h with DPI, it was not detectable at early time points, required to induce p53 expression. And DPI-induced p53 expression was not affected by the ROS scavenger NAC. We conclude that DPI induces the expression of p53 by ROS-independent mechanism in ARPE-19 cells, and renders cells sensitive to drug-induced apoptosis by induction of p53 expression.     

Expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 in embryonic chick lens: Molecular cloning,ultrastructural localization,and post-translational phosphorylation

Summary Lens epithelial cells are physiologically coupled to each other and to the lens fibers by an extensive network of intercellular gap junctions. In the rat, the epithelial-epithelial junctions appear to contain connexin43, a member of the connexin family of gap junction proteins. Limitations on the use of rodent lenses for the study of gap junction formation and regulation led us to examine the expression of connexin43 in embryonic chick lenses. We report here that chick connexin43 is remarkably similar to its rat counterpart in primary amino acid sequence and in several key structural features as deduced by molecular cDNA cloning. The cross-reactivity of an anti-rat connexin43 serum with chick connexin43 permitted definitive immunocytochemical localization of chick connexin43 to lens epithelial gap junctional plaques and examination of the biosynthesis of connexin43 by metabolic radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation. We show that chick lens cells synthesize connexin43 as a single, 42-kD species that is efficiently posttranslationally converted to a 45-kD form. Metabolic labeling of connexin43 with³²P-orthophosphate combined with dephosphorylation experiments reveals that this shift in apparent molecular weight is due solely to phosphorylation. These results indicate that embryonic chick lens is an appropriate system for the study of connexin43 biosynthesis and demonstrate for the first time that connexin43 is a phosphoprotein.     

A Battery of Cell- and Structure-specific Markers for the Adult Porcine Retina

The pig is becoming an increasingly used non-primate model in experimental studies of human retinal diseases and disorders. The anatomy, size, and vasculature of the porcine eye and retina closely resemble their human counterparts, which allows for application of standard instrumentation and diagnostics used in the clinic. Despite many reports that demonstrate immunohistochemistry as a useful method for exploring neuropathological changes in the mammalian central nervous system, including the pig, the porcine retina has been sparsely described. Hence, to facilitate further immunohistochemical analysis of the porcine retina, we report on the successful use of a battery of antibodies for staining of paraformaldehyde-fixed cryosectioned retina. The following antibodies were evaluated for neuronal cells and structures: recoverin (cones and rods), Rho4D2 (rods), transducin-γ (cones), ROM-1 (photoreceptor outer segments), calbindin (horizontal cells), PKC-α (bipolar cells), parvalbumin (amacrine and displaced amacrine cells), and NeuN (ganglion cells and displaced amacrines). For detecting synaptic connections in fiber layers, we used an antibody against synaptobrevin. For detecting retinal pigment epithelium, we studied antibodies against cytokeratin and RPE65, respectively. The glial cell markers used were bFGF (Müller cells and displaced amacrine cells), GFAP (Müller cells and astrocytes), and vimentin (Müller cells). Each staining effect was evaluated with regard to its specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility in the identification of individual cells, specific cell structures, and fiber layers, respectively. The markers parvalbumin and ROM-1 were tested here for the first time for the porcine retina. All antibodies tested resulted in specific staining of high quality. In conclusion, all immunohistochemical protocols presented here will be applicable in fixed, cryosectioned pig retina. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:377–389, 2010)     

Autophagy as the cell survival in response to a microsporidian infection of the midgut epithelium of Isohypsibius granulifer granulifer (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae)

The midgut epithelial cells of many invertebrates may possess microorganisms which act as symbionts or pathogens (bacteria, microsporidia, viruses). During our previous studies on Isohypsibius granulifer granulifer Thulin, 1928 (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada), which examined alterations of the midgut epithelium during oogenesis, we found that some of the specimens were infected with microsporidia. All stages of pathogens occurred in the cytoplasm of the digestive cells in the midgut epithelium of I. g. granulifer that were infected with microsporidia: meronts, sporonts, sporoblasts, and spores. The cytoplasm of the digestive cells was rich in mitochondria, cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), and Golgi complexes. Autophagy in the digestive cells of the dorsal midgut was much more intensive in comparison with noninfected specimens. Membranes of phagophores surrounded the pathogens forming autophagosomes. These latter structures fused with lysosomes forming autolysosomes and residual bodies appeared. Neither glycogen granules nor droplets of varying electron density, which accumulated in digestive cells during vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, appeared in individuals with microsporidia. While the midgut epithelium in noninfected specimens takes part in vitellogenesis and choriogenesis, in infected specimens, midgut cells are involved in the process of autophagy as a survival strategy.     

Anti-herbivore structures of Paulownia tomentosa: morphology, distribution, chemical constituents and changes during shoot and leaf development

Background and Aims: Recent studies have shown that small structures on plant surfacesserve ecological functions such as resistance against herbivores.The morphology, distribution, chemical composition and changesduring shoot and leaf development of such small structures wereexamined on Paulownia tomentosa. Methods: The morphology and distribution of the structures were studiedunder light microscopy, and their chemical composition was analysedusing thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquidchromatography. To further investigate the function of thesestructures, several simple field experiments and observationswere also conducted. Key Results: Three types of small structures on P. tomentosa were investigated:bowl-shaped organs, glandular hairs and dendritic trichomes.The bowl-shaped organs were densely aggregated on the leavesnear flower buds and were determined to be extrafloral nectarines(EFNs) that secrete sugar and attract ants. Nectar productionof these organs was increased by artificial damage to the leaves,suggesting an anti-herbivore function through symbiosis withants. Glandular hairs were found on the surfaces of young and/orreproductive organs. Glandular hairs on leaves, stems and flowerssecreted mucilage containing glycerides and trapped small insects.Secretions from glandular hairs on flowers and immature fruitscontained flavonoids, which may provide protection against someherbivores. Yellow dendritic trichomes on the adaxial side ofleaves also contained flavonoids identical to those secretedby the glandular hairs on fruits and flowers. Three specialtypes of leaves, which differed from the standard leaves inshape, size and identity of small structures, developed nearyoung shoot tips or young flower buds. The density of smallstructures on these leaf types was higher than on standard leaves,suggesting that these leaf types may be specialized to protectyoung leaves or reproductive organs. Changes in the small structuresduring leaf development suggested that leaves of P. tomentosaare primarily protected by glandular hairs and dendritic trichomesat young stages and by the EFNs at mature stages. Conclusions: The results indicate that P. tomentosa protects young and/orreproductive organs from herbivores through the distributionand allocation of small structures, the nature of which dependson the developmental stage of leaves and shoots.     

G Protein-mediated Activation of a Nonspecific Cation Current in Cultured Rat Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

We used whole-cell patch-clamp recording techniques to investigate G protein-activated currents in cultured rat retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Using 140 mm KCl intracellular and 130 mm NaCl extracellular solutions, rat RPE cells possessed both inward and outward K⁺ currents. Upon addition of the nonhydrolyzable guanine triphosphate analogue, guanosine-5′-O-(3-thiophosphate) (GTPγS, 0.1 mm), to the recording electrode, a nonspecific cation (NSC) current was elicited. The NSC current had a mean reversal potential of +5.7 mV in 130 mm extracellular NaCl with Cs⁺-aspartate in the pipette, and was not affected by alterations in the extracellular Ca²⁺ or Cl⁻ concentration. The GTPγS-activated current was found to be permeable to several monovalent cations (K⁺, Na⁺, choline, TRIS, and NMDG). Addition of fluoroaluminate, an activator of large molecular weight heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G proteins), to the intracellular recording solution activated the NSC current. The G protein involved was pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive, since GTPγS failed to activate the NSC current in cells pretreated with PTX. Further investigation of second messenger molecules suggested that activation of the NSC current was not affected by alterations in intracellular Ca²⁺ or ATP. From these results, we conclude that a G protein-regulated NSC current is present in rat RPE cells. Activation of the NSC current may sufficiently depolarize RPE cells to activate outward K⁺ currents. This would provide a mechanism by which these cells could rid themselves of accumulated K⁺. Received: 25 January 1996/Revised: 24 April 1996