An investigation into the effects of inhibitors of fluid production by Locusta Malpighian tubule Type I cells on their secretion and elemental composition

The intracellular elemental concentrations of K, Na, Cl, P, Mg and Ca within Type I cells of the Malpighian tubules of Locusta migratoria have been measured using electron probe X-ray microanalysis. The distribution of Na, K and Cl was not homogeneous within the cells and concentration gradients exist from basal to apical surfaces. The rate of secretion and the cationic composition of the secreted tubule fluid have also been determined. Furosemide (1 mM) inhibited fluid secretion by about 60%, raised the Na(+)] but did not significantly alter the K(+)] of the secreted tubule fluid. When Rb(+) replaced K(+) in the saline fluid secretion was also inhibited by about 60%, but no additional inhibition occurred by the simultaneous inclusion of furosemide. Thus, Rb(+) and furosemide probably act at the same transport site, and Rb(+) cannot substitute for K(+) at the basal membrane cotransporter. Bafilomycin (1 μM) dramatically inhibited fluid production by 85%, the K(+)] of the secreted fluid was reduced by about 30% but the Na(+)] was almost doubled. Furosemide, in common with other inhibitors of fluid secretion acting at the basal surface (ouabain and Rb(+)), caused a fall in intracellular K] and a rise in Na]. Bafilomycin, in common with N-ethyl maleimide, which acts at the apical surface, increased the intracellular K] but did not affect the Na].