Active electrogenic mechanisms for alkali and acid transport in turtle bladders

Abstract

Immediately after mounting in the Ussing chamber between choline bicarbonate Ringer solutions devoid of exogenous Na and Cl, the serosal fluid is electronegative to the luminal fluid in bladders from postabsorptive and acidotic turtles; and electropositive in bladders from alkalotic turtles. In bladders from postprandial turtles, the electrical orientation, initially serosal positive, reverses to serosal negative. Serosal additions of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) produce no changes in the negative short-circuiting current (Isc) of acidotic turtles but induce large positively-directed increases of Isc in bladders from other turtle groups. With IBMX and cAMP in the (HCO3 + CO2)-rich serosal fluid at pH 7.2 and with luminal pH maintained at 4.0-5.0, the rate at which titratable alkali enters the luminal fluid is electrochemically equal to the positive Isc; and this increased positive Isc is the same as that in the absence of transepithelial gradients. The effects of acetazolamide and 4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid on positive and negative Isc are presented. It is concluded that isolated bladders from alkalotic, postprandial or postabsorptive turtles, but not those from acidotic turtles, possess an active electrogenic mechanism for a Na-independent Cl-independent secretion of bicarbonate. This transport process is accelerated by phosphodiesterase inhibitors (IBMX) and cAMP or its eight substituted derivatives.