Increase In Cl Permeability Research Articles

Studies on the tonoplast action potential ofNitella flexilis

The origins of the two peaks of the action potential inNitella flexilis were analyzed by inserting two microelectrodes. one into the vacuole and the other into the cytoplasm. It was unequivocally demonstrated that the rapid first peak was generated at the plasmalemma and the slow second peak at the tonoplast. MnCl2 applied in the external medium abolished the second, tonoplast, peak but not the first, plasmalemma, peak, MnCl2 also inhibited the cessation of the cytoplasmic streaming accompanying the action potential. CaCl2 added in MnCl2-containing medium recovered generation of the tonoplast action potential and the streaming cessation. Since it has been established that the cessation of cytoplasmic streaming on membrane excitation is caused by an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2− (Williamson, R.E., Ashley, C.C., 1982.Nature (London) 296:647–651: Tominaga, Y., Shimmen, T., Tazawa, M., 1983,Protoplasma 116:75–77), it is suggested that the tonoplast action potential is also induced by an increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ resulting from the plasmalemma excitation. When vacuolar Cl was replaced with SO 4 2 by vacuolar perfusion, the polarity of the second, slow peak was reversed from vacuolar positive to vacuolar negative with respect to the cytoplasm, supporting the previous report that the tonoplast action potential is caused by increase in Cl permeability (Kikuyama, M., Tazawa, M., 1976.J. Membrane Biol.29:95–110).

Functional and pharmacological differences between two types of GABA receptor on embryonic chick sensory neurons

Embryonic chick sensory neurons grown in dissociated cell culture exhibit two functional responses to GABA: an increase in resting membrane permeability to chloride (Cl) ions (resulting in membrane depolarization) and a decrease in voltage-dependent calcium (Ca) channel current (resulting in a decreased action potential duration). These two functional effects differ in a number of ways. (1) The increase in resting membrane permeability desensitizes in the maintained presence of GABA, while the decrease in action potential duration does not. (2) Muscimol is a selective agonist for the increase in resting conductance, while baclofen is a selective agonist for the decrease in action potential duration. (3) Bicuculline inhibits the GABA- or muscimol-induced increase in Cl permeability, but it does not block the GABA- or baclofen-induced decrease in action potential duration. These functional and pharmacological differences between the two effects of GABA suggest that two separate receptors are involved.

Cyclic AMP-induced chloride permeability in the apical membrane of Necturus gallbladder epithelium.

The effects of theophylline, 8-Br-cAMP, and cAMP on necturus gallbladder epithelium were investigated using microelectrode techniques. Each of these substances depolarized the cell membranes by approximately 15 mV and decreased the apparent ratio of apical to basolateral membrane resistances to a value not significantly different from zero. Examination of the ionic selectivity of the apical membrane by ion substitutions in the mucosal bathing medium revealed a large increase in Cl permeability with no apparent changes in K and Na permeabilities. Intracellular Cl activity ((a)CL(i)) was measured using Cl- sensitive liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes. Under control conditions, (a)Cl(i) was approximately 20 mM, 2.5 times higher than the value expected for equilibrium distribution ((a)Cl(i/eq). After addition of 8-Br-cAMP, (a)Cl(i) decreased within less than 60 s to approximately 13 mM, a value not significantly different from ((a)Cl(i/eq)). Virtually identical results were obtained with theophylline. Under control conditions, luminal Cl removal caused (a)Cl(i) to fall at an initial rate of 1.8 mM/min, whereas in tissues exposed to 8-Br- cAMP or theophylline a rate of 11.6 mM/min was observed. The apical membrane Cl transference number was estimated from the change of (a)Cl(i) upon exposure to 8-Br-cAMP as well as from the changes in apical membrane potential during variation of the luminal Cl concentration. The results, 0.91 and 0.88, respectively, are indicative of a high Cl permeability of the apical membrane during cAMP. This effect may explain, at least in part, the complete inhibition of fluid absorption produced by theophylline in this tissue. Moreover, enhancement of apical membrane Cl permeability may account for a variety of cAMP effects in epithelial tissues.

Cholinergic and catecholaminergic receptors in the Xenopus oocyte membrane.

1. Neurotransmitter-receptors in the membrane of Xenopus oocytes have been studied using electrophysiological techniques. Neurotransmitters and related agents were applied while recording either membrane potential or membrane current. The majority of ovarian oocytes used were at stages IV and V.2. Three types of oocytes were examined: inner ovarian epithelium covered (e.c.) oocytes; epithelium manually removed (e.r.) oocytes; and collagenase treated (c.t.) ooctyes.3. Ovarian oocytes are sensitive to some cholinergic and catecholaminergic agents. Responses to serotonin were seldom observed and when present were much weaker than responses to other agents. No responses were observed to the amino acids: aspartate, glutamate, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and glycine; or to octopamine and histamine.4. Acetylcholine (ACh) usually depolarized the membrane, in a dose-dependent manner, with threshold concentrations as low as 10(-9)m. The ACh-potential was due to an increase in Cl permeability and had a reversal potential around - 19 mV. The intracellular Cl ion activity, measured with a Cl-ion sensitive micro-electrode, was about 65 mm and the estimated Cl-ion equilibrium potential, E(Cl), agreed with the reversal potential of the ACh-potential.5. Curare (10(-4)m), tetrodotoxin (10(-6)m), or alpha-bungarotoxin (10(-6) g/ml.) did not block the response to 10(-6)m-ACh; whereas atropine (10(-7)m) blocked it. No response to nicotinic agents (e.g. nicotine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium) was observed. These results suggest that the ACh receptors in the oocyte membrane are muscarinic in nature.6. The apparent latency of the ACh potential, examined by ionophoretic application of ACh to e.r. oocytes and c.t. oocytes, ranged from 0.5 sec to over 20 sec. Intracellular injection of ACh was without effect.7. Responses to catecholamines were observed mostly in e.c. oocytes; while in e.r. and c.t. oocytes they were rare and of very small amplitudes.8. The usual response to both dopamine and (-)-epinephrine was a transient hyperpolarization manifested by an initial increase in K-permeability followed by a decrease. The latency of these responses ranged from 10 sec to over 30 sec and their reversal potential was nearly - 100 mV, which coincided with E(K).9. Oocytes responded to the beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol, as well as (-)-epinephrine. Pre-treatment with the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker, propranolol, abolished the response to both (-)-epinephrine and (-)-isoproterenol. The dopamine potential was also reduced considerably. Both the alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist, phenylephrine, and the alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker, phentolamine, were without effect.10. Maturation of the oocytes, induced in vivo by gonadotropin or in vitro by progesterone, led to loss of responsiveness to both cholinergic and catecholaminergic agents.

Ion Selective Effects of Salicylate on Antral Mucosa

The effects of luminal salicylate, 5mM, were measured on rates of ion transport by isolated antral mucosa. At neutral luminal pH, salicylate increases Na and decreases Cl permeability. Salicylate does not alter net Na transport but decreases net Cl secretion. At luminal pH 4, the effects of salicylate can be arbitrarily divided into two phases. The intitial phase is associated with an increase in Na and marked decrease in Cl permeability. Subsequently, a greater increase in Na permeability and a marked increase in Cl permeability occurs. Active Na transport persists in the presence of salicylate at pH 4. Indirect evidence also suggests that Cl secretion persists under these conditions, buy at a reduced rate. The rate of luminal acid acid loss also increases in the presence of salicylate. A 4-fold increase in salicylate concentration or decrease in luminal pH from 4 to 3 did not appear to intensify the effects observed for 5 mM salicylate at pH 4. The increase in cation and decrease in anion permeability observed at pH 7 and initially at pH 4 are compatible with an influence of a negative charge of the salicylate anion. The subsequent changes observed in the presence of acid also are compatible with the concept that as the mucosa becomes overwhelmed with acid, a nonspecific increase in permeability occurs. However, the effect of salicylate on active Cl transport is largely independent of acid diffusing into the mucosa.

Effects of α-toxins from Bungarus multicinctus and Bungarus caeruleus on cholinergic responses in Aplysia neurones

The effects of alpha-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus and Bungarus caeruleus were studied on three types of cholinergic response in Aplysia central neurones. These responses are the result of three distinct changes in ionic permeability: selective increases in permeabiliyt to Na, Cl and K, respectively. It was shown that 10(-5) M alpha-bungarotoxin from B. multicinctus completely blocks the response resulting from an increase in Cl permeability, while having no effect on either of the other two responses types (even when the toxin concentration was increased to 5 X 10(-5) M). The block of the Cl-dependent response by alpha-bungarotoxin is reversible. None of the three response types were affected by similar concentrations of alpha-toxin from B. caeruleus. Higher concentrations were not systematically tested. These results contradict reports of other authors on the action of alpha-bungarotoxin on molluscan acetylcholine (ACh) responses. Possible reasons for the discrepancies between our findings and those published by other authors are discussed.