Water transport in perfused scorpion ileum.

Abstract

Water transport in desert scorpion ileum involves two independent transfer pathways operating in parallel: 1) paracellular flow occurs through intercellular spaces in response to transmural osmotic or ionic gradients; and 2) transcellular water transport occurs across apical and basal cell membranes in response to a basal, energy-requiring sodium efflux process. The tissue exhibits no osmotic rectification over the range of transepithelial osmotic gradients imposed (Lp = hydraulic conductivity), Lp = 95 x 10(-7) cm - s-1 - atm-1), but displays apparent asymmetric ion permeability in response to transmural ion gradients, as determined by codiffusional water movements across the preparation. Osmotic permeability ((Pos), Pos = 1.13 x 10(-3) cm - s-1) of the tissue exceeds diffusional permeability ((Pd), Pd = 1.45 x 10(-5) cm - s-1) by almost two orders of magnitude. In the absence of osmotic or hydrostatic pressure gradients, transmural water transport requires cellular metabolism, is sodium-dependent, is inhibited by potassium, and produces an apparent strongly hypotonic absorbate. This water transport process appears to be adaptive, as scorpion dehydration results in alterations of luminal ion concentrations that favor increased net flow of water to the hemolymph.