scholarly journals Changes in apical [K+] produce delayed basal membrane responses of the retinal pigment epithelium in the gecko.

1984 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
E R Griff ◽  
R H Steinberg

We describe here a new retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) response, a delayed hyperpolarization of the RPE basal membrane, which is initiated by the light-evoked decrease of [K+]o in the subretinal space. This occurs in addition to an apical hyperpolarization previously described in cat (Steinberg et al., 1970; Schmidt and Steinberg, 1971) and in bullfrog (Oakley et al., 1977; Oakley, 1977). Intracellular and extracellular potentials and measurements of subretinal [K+]o were recorded from an in vitro preparation of neural retina-RPE-choroid from the lizard Gekko gekko in response to light. Extracellularly, the potential across the RPE, the transepithelial potential (TEP), first increased and then decreased during illumination. Whereas the light-evoked decrease in [K+]o predicted the increase in TEP, the subsequent decrease in TEP was greater than predicted by the reaccumulation of [K+]o. Intracellular RPE recordings showed that a delayed hyperpolarization generated at the RPE basal membrane produced the extra TEP decrease. At light offset, the opposite sequence of membrane potential changes occurred. RPE responses to changes in [K+]o were studied directly in the isolated gecko RPE-choroid. Decreasing [K+]o in the apical bathing solution produced first a hyperpolarization of the apical membrane, followed by a delayed hyperpolarization of the basal membrane, a sequence of membrane potential changes identical to those evoked by light. Increasing [K+]o produced the opposite sequence of membrane potential changes. In both preparations, the delayed basal membrane potentials were accompanied by changes in basal membrane conductance. The mechanism by which a change in extracellular [K+] outside the apical membrane leads to a polarization of the basal membrane remains to be determined.

1986 ◽  
Vol 250 (5) ◽  
pp. F781-F784 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Tsuboi ◽  
R. Manabe ◽  
S. Iizuka

Transport of Na and Cl across the isolated dog retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) choroid was investigated. Under the short-circuit condition, a net Na flux was observed from choroid to retina and a net Cl flux was determined in the opposite direction. The current created by the net flux of these two ions was larger than the short-circuit current (SCC). Addition of 10(-5) M ouabain to the apical side inhibited net fluxes of both Na and Cl, whereas it reduced the SCC 84%. Addition of 10(-4) M furosemide to the apical side inhibited net Cl flux but had no effect on the net Na transport. The 10(-4) M furosemide reduced the SCC 38%. These drugs had no effect when applied to the basal side. Thus the transport of both Na and Cl depends on the Na-K-ATPase in the apical membrane of the dog RPE. A furosemide-sensitive neutral carrier at the apical membrane is suggested for the transport of Cl. Replacement of HCO3 with SO4 in the bathing solution caused an increase in the SCC, indicating the choroid-to-retina movement of HCO3 across the short-circuited dog RPE choroid.


1984 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
R A Linsenmeier ◽  
R H Steinberg

Previous work has shown that the cat retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is the source of two potential changes that follow the absorption of light by photoreceptors: a hyperpolarization of the apical membrane, peaking in 2-4 s, which leads to the RPE component of the electroretinogram (ERG) c-wave, and a depolarization of the basal membrane, peaking in 5 min, which leads to the light peak. This paper describes a new basal membrane response of intermediate time course, called the delayed basal hyperpolarization. Isolation of this response from other RPE potentials showed that with maintained illumination the hyperpolarization begins approximately 2 s after light onset, peaks in 20 s, and slowly ends as the membrane repolarizes over the next 60 s. The delayed basal hyperpolarization is very small for stimuli less than 4 s in duration and grows with duration, becoming approximately 15% as large as the preceding apical hyperpolarization with stimuli longer than 20 s. Extracellularly, this response contributes to the transepithelial potential (TEP) across the RPE. In response to light the TEP first rises to a peak, the c-wave, as the apical membrane hyperpolarizes. For stimuli longer than approximately 4 s, the decline of the TEP from the peak of the c-wave results partly from the recovery of apical membrane potential and partly from the delayed basal hyperpolarization. For long periods of illumination (300 s) the delayed basal hyperpolarization leads to a trough in the TEP between the c-wave and light peak. This trough is largely responsible for a corresponding trough in vitreal recordings, which has been called the "fast oscillation." The term "fast oscillation" has also been used to denote the sequence of potential changes resulting from repeated stimuli approximately 1 min in duration. In addition to the delayed basal hyperpolarization, such responses also contain a basal off-response, a delayed depolarization.


1995 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 1089-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
W M Peterson ◽  
S S Miller

Intracellular microelectrodes, fluorescence imaging, and radiotracer flux techniques were used to investigate the physiological response of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to the major retinal inhibitory neurotransmitter, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is released tonically in the dark by amphibian horizontal cells, but is not taken up by the nearby Müller cells. Addition of GABA to the apical bath produced voltage responses in the bullfrog RPE that were not blocked nor mimicked by any of the major GABA-receptor antagonists or agonists. Nipecotic acid, a substrate for GABA transport, inhibited the voltage effects of GABA. GABA and nipecotic acid also inhibited the voltage effects of taurine, suggesting that the previously characterized beta-alanine sensitive taurine carrier also takes up GABA. The voltage responses of GABA, taurine, nipecotic acid, and beta-alanine all showed first-order saturable kinetics with the following Km's: GABA (Km = 160 microM), beta-alanine (Km = 250 microM), nipecotic acid (Km = 420 microM), and taurine (Km = 850 microM). This low affinity GABA transporter is dependent on external Na, partially dependent on external Cl, and is stimulated in low [K]o, which approximates subretinal space [K]o during light onset. Apical GABA also produced a significant conductance increase at the basolateral membrane. These GABA-induced conductance changes were blocked by basal Ba2+, suggesting that GABA decreased basolateral membrane K conductance. In addition, the apical membrane Na/K ATPase was stimulated in the presence of GABA. A model for the interaction between the GABA transporter, the Na/K ATPase, and the basolateral membrane K conductance accounts for the electrical effects of GABA. Net apical-to-basal flux of [3H]-GABA was also observed in radioactive flux experiments. The present study shows that a high capacity GABA uptake mechanism with unique pharmacological properties is located at the RPE apical membrane and could play an important role in the removal of GABA from the subretinal space (SRS). This transporter could also coordinate the activities of GABA and taurine in the SRS after transitions between light and dark.


1994 ◽  
Vol 266 (4) ◽  
pp. C935-C945 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lin ◽  
S. S. Miller

Intracellular pH (pHi) measurements in frog retinal pigment epithelium using the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein demonstrate that the basolateral membrane contains a pHi-sensitive Cl-HCO3 exchanger. In control Ringer solution, the removal of Cl from the basal bath alkalinized the cells by 0.07 +/- 0.03 (SD) pH units (n = 39) with an initial rate of 0.022 +/- 0.0013 pH units/min. This effect was blocked by 0.5 mM basal 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'- disulfonic acid or the removal of HCO3 from both the apical and basal baths. The rate of the exchange is reduced by acidification and increased by alkalinization. Increasing apical bath K concentration ([K]o) from 2 to 5 mM approximates the [K]o change in the subretinal space of the intact eye following a transition from light to dark. This [K]o change alkalinized the cells by increasing the rate of the apical membrane Na-HCO3 cotransporter. In 5 mM apical [K]o, the initial rate of the 0 Cl-induced alkalinization was significantly increased to 304 +/- 13% (n = 4) of control (2 mM [K]o). These mechanisms regulate pHi and could also buffer changes in subretinal pH.


2009 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
pp. 603-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Adijanto ◽  
Tina Banzon ◽  
Stephen Jalickee ◽  
Nam S. Wang ◽  
Sheldon S. Miller

In the intact eye, the transition from light to dark alters pH, [Ca2+], and [K] in the subretinal space (SRS) separating the photoreceptor outer segments and the apical membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). In addition to these changes, oxygen consumption in the retina increases with a concomitant release of CO2 and H2O into the SRS. The RPE maintains SRS pH and volume homeostasis by transporting these metabolic byproducts to the choroidal blood supply. In vitro, we mimicked the transition from light to dark by increasing apical bath CO2 from 5 to 13%; this maneuver decreased cell pH from 7.37 ± 0.05 to 7.14 ± 0.06 (n = 13). Our analysis of native and cultured fetal human RPE shows that the apical membrane is significantly more permeable (≈10-fold; n = 7) to CO2 than the basolateral membrane, perhaps due to its larger exposed surface area. The limited CO2 diffusion at the basolateral membrane promotes carbonic anhydrase–mediated HCO3 transport by a basolateral membrane Na/nHCO3 cotransporter. The activity of this transporter was increased by elevating apical bath CO2 and was reduced by dorzolamide. Increasing apical bath CO2 also increased intracellular Na from 15.7 ± 3.3 to 24.0 ± 5.3 mM (n = 6; P < 0.05) by increasing apical membrane Na uptake. The CO2-induced acidification also inhibited the basolateral membrane Cl/HCO3 exchanger and increased net steady-state fluid absorption from 2.8 ± 1.6 to 6.7 ± 2.3 µl × cm−2 × hr−1 (n = 5; P < 0.05). The present experiments show how the RPE can accommodate the increased retinal production of CO2 and H2O in the dark, thus preventing acidosis in the SRS. This homeostatic process would preserve the close anatomical relationship between photoreceptor outer segments and RPE in the dark and light, thus protecting the health of the photoreceptors.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. C132-C140 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Reigada ◽  
Claire H. Mitchell

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) faces the photoreceptor outer segments and regulates the composition of the interstitial subretinal space. ATP enhances fluid movement from the subretinal space across the RPE. RPE cells can themselves release ATP, but the mechanisms and polarity of this release are unknown. The RPE expresses the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and CFTR is associated with ATP release in other epithelial cells. However, an increasing number of reports have suggested that the exocytotic pathway contributes to release. In the present study, we examined the involvement of CFTR and the vesicular pathway in ATP release from RPE cells. Release from cultured human ARPE-19 cells and across the apical membrane of fresh bovine RPE cells in an eyecup was studied. A cAMP cocktail to activate CFTR triggered ATP release from fresh and cultured RPE cells. Release from both RPE preparations was largely prevented by the broad-acting blocker glibenclamide and the specific thiazolidinone CFTR inhibitor CFTR-172. The block by CFTR-172 was enhanced by preincubation and prevented ATP release with 3.5 μM IC50. The rise in intracellular Ca2+ accompanying hypotonic challenge was prevented by CFTR-172. The vesicular transport inhibitor brefeldin A prevented ATP release after stimulation with both hypotonic and cAMP conditions, suggesting vesicular insertion was also involved. These results show an intimate involvement of CFTR in ATP release from RPE cells which can autostimulate receptors on the apical membrane to modify Ca2+ signaling. The requirement for both CFTR and vesicular transport pathways suggests vesicular insertion of CFTR may underlie the release of ATP.


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