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Functional Characterization of a ClC-2-Like Cl− Conductance in Surface Epithelial Cells of Rat Rectal Colon

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Abstract

ClC-2, a member of the voltage-gated Cl− channel family, is expressed in the distal colonic surface epithelial cells of various species, but its functional significance remains unclear. Here, by means of electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques, we have identified and characterized a ClC-2-like conductance naturally expressed by surface epithelial cells acutely dissociated from rectal colon of rats fed a standard diet. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments showed that the surface cells, whether an amiloride-sensitive Na+ conductance was present or not, displayed a strong hyperpolarization-activated, inwardly rectifying Cl− current. Analysis both by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry confirmed the expression of ClC-2 in the rectal surface epithelium. The native Cl− current shared common electrophysiological properties including voltage-dependent activation, anion selectivity sequence, and Zn2+ sensitivity with that recorded from HEK293 cells transfected with ClC-2 cloned from rat rectal colon (rClC-2). Cell-attached patch recordings on the surface cells revealed that native ClC-2-like currents activated only at potentials at least 40 mV more negative than resting membrane potentials. In Ussing chamber experiments with rat rectal mucosa, either basolateral or apical application of Zn2+ (0.1 mM), which inhibited both native ClC-2-like currents and recombinant rClC-2 currents, had little, if any, effects on basal amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current. Collectively, these results not only demonstrate that a functional ClC-2-type Cl− channel is expressed in rat rectal surface epithelium, but also suggest that the channel activity may be negligible and thus nonessential for controlling electrogenic Na+ transport in this surface epithelium under basal physiological conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the Akiyama Foundation and the Suzuken Memorial Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. Toru Ishikawa

    Present address: Division of Biomedical Science, Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0818, Japan

    Akihiro Inagaki, Soichiro Yamaguchi & Toru Ishikawa

  2. Department of Physiology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan

    Akihiro Inagaki

  3. Laboratory of Histology and Cytology, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Hiromi Takahashi-Iwanaga & Toshihiko Iwanaga

Authors
  1. Akihiro Inagaki
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  2. Soichiro Yamaguchi
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  4. Toshihiko Iwanaga
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Correspondence to Toru Ishikawa.

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Inagaki, A., Yamaguchi, S., Takahashi-Iwanaga, H. et al. Functional Characterization of a ClC-2-Like Cl− Conductance in Surface Epithelial Cells of Rat Rectal Colon. J Membrane Biol 235, 27–41 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-010-9253-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00232-010-9253-6

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