Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Electrophysiological studies on lateral intercellular spaces ofNecturus gallbladder epithelium

  • Transport Processes, Metabolism and Endocrinology; Kidney, Gastrointestinal Tract, and Exocrine Glands
  • Published:
Pflügers Archiv Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The lateral intercellular spaces ofNecturus gallbladder epithelium were punctured with doublebarrelled ion selective microelectrodes in order to determine the ion concentrations of lateral space fluid and the contribution of the lateral spaces to transepithelial resistance. Neither under control conditions, nor after diluting the bathing fluids to increase the rate of volume absorption, nor during passage of direct current of 200 μA/cm2, were any reliable concentration differences observed between lateral space fluid and external bathing fluids. These observations suggest that water can follow salt transport without requiring osmotic concentration gradients of greater than 1 or 2 mosmol/l and indicate that recently observed high values of water permeability must still be considered as underestimates. After developing a test to recognize and exclude leaky punctures, the contribution of the lateral spaces to transepithelial resistance could be determined. It amounted to around 29%. This value agrees well with results from recent impedance measurements which were performed under control conditions in the same preparation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barry PH, Diamond JM, Wright EM (1971) The mechanism of cation permeation in rabbit gallbladder dilution potentials and bi-ionic potentials. J Membrane Biol 4:358–394

    Google Scholar 

  2. Baumgarten CM (1981) An improved liquid ion exchanger for chloride ion-selective microelectrodes. Am J Physiol 241: C258-C263

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bindslev N, Tormey JMcD, Wright EM (1974) The effects of electrical and osmotic gradients on lateral intercellular spaces and membrane conductance in a low resistance epithelium. J Membr Biol 19:357–380

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brown KT, Flaming DG (1974) Beveling of fine micropipette electrodes by a rapid precision method. Science 185:693–695

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bundgaard M, Zeuthen T (1982) Structure of Necturus gallbladder epithelium during transport at low external osmolarities. J Membr Biol 68:97–105

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cassola AC, Mollenhauer M, Frömter E (1983) The intracellular chloride activity of rat kidney proximal tubular cells. Pflügers Arch 399:259–265

    Google Scholar 

  7. Curci S, Frömter E (1979) Micropuncture of lateral intercellular spaces of Necturus gallbladder to determine space fluid K+ concentration. Nature 278:355–357

    Google Scholar 

  8. Diamond JM (1964) The mechanism of isotonic water transport. J Gen Physiol 48:15–42

    Google Scholar 

  9. Diamond JM, Bossert WH (1967) Standing-gradient osmotic flow. A mechanism for coupling of water and solute transport in epithelia. J Gen Physiol 50:2061–2083

    Google Scholar 

  10. Frederikson O, Leyssac PP (1969) Transcellular transport of isoosmotic volumes by the rabbit gallbladder in vitro. J Physiol 201:201–224

    Google Scholar 

  11. Frömter E (1972) The route of passive ion movement through the epithelium of Necturus gallbladder. J Membr Biol 8:259–301

    Google Scholar 

  12. Frömter E, Simon M, Gebler B (1981) A double-channel ionselective microelectrode with the possibility of fluid ejection for localization of the electrode tip in the tissue. In: Lübbers DW, Acker H, Buck RP, Eisenman G, Kessler U, Simon W (eds) Progress in enzyme and ion-selective electrodes. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 35–44

    Google Scholar 

  13. Güggi M, Oehme M, Pretsch E, Simon W (1976) Neutraler Ionophor für Flüssigkeitsmembranelektroden mit hoher Selektivität für Natrium-gegenüber Kalium-Ionen. Helv Chim Acta 59:2417–2420

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gupta BL, Hall TA, Naftalin RJ (1978) Microprobe measurements of Na, K and Cl concentration profiles in epithelial cells and intercellular spaces of rabbit ileum. Nature 272:70–73

    Google Scholar 

  15. Higgins JT, Cesaro L, Gebler B, Frömter E (1975) Electrical properties of amphibian urinary bladder epithelia. I. Inverse relationship between potential difference and resistance in tightly mounted preparations. Pflügers Arch 358:41–56

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hill AE (1980) Salt-water coupling in leaky epithelia. J Membrane Biol 55:117–182

    Google Scholar 

  17. Hill BS, Hill AE (1978) Fluid transfer by Necturus gallbladder epithelium as a function of osmolarity. Proc R Soc Lond B 200:151–162

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kottra G, Frömter E (1984) Rapid determination of intraepithelial resistance barriers by alternating current spectroscopy. I. Experimental procedures. Pflügers Arch 402:409–420

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kottra G, Frömter E (1984) Rapid determination of intraepithelial resistance barriers by alternating current spectroscopy. II. Test of model circuits and quantification of results. Pflügers Arch 402:421–432

    Google Scholar 

  20. Persson BE, Spring KR (1982) Gallbladder epithelial cell hydraulic water permeability and volume regulation. J Gen Physiol 79:481–505

    Google Scholar 

  21. Reuss L, Finn AL (1975) Electrical properties of the cellular transepithelial pathway in Necturus gallbladder. I. Circuit analysis and steady state effects of mucosal solution ionic substitutions. J Membr Biol 25:115–139

    Google Scholar 

  22. Ruska H, Moore DH, Weinstock J (1957) The base of the proximal convoluted tubule cells of rat kidney. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 3:249–254

    Google Scholar 

  23. Sackin H, Boulpaep EL (1975) Models for coupling of salt and water transport proximal tubular reabsorption in Necturus kidney. J Gen Physiol 66:671–733

    Google Scholar 

  24. Simon M, Curci S, Gebler B, Frömter E (1981) Attempts to determine the ion concentrations in the lateral spaces between the cells of Necturus gallbladder epithelium with microelectrodes. In: Ussing HH, Bindslev N, Lassen NA, Sten-Knudsen O (eds) Alfred Benzon Symposium 15, Water transport across epithelia. Munksgaard, Copenhagen, pp 52–69

    Google Scholar 

  25. Spring KP, Hope A (1978) Size and shape of the lateral intercellular spaces in a living epithelium. Science 200:54–58

    Google Scholar 

  26. Spring KP, Hope A (1979) Fluid transport and the dimensions of cells and interspaces of living Necturus gallbladder. J Gen Physiol 73:287–305

    Google Scholar 

  27. Suzuki K, Frömter E (1977) The potential and resistance profile of Necturus gallbladder cells. Pflügers Arch 371:109–117

    Google Scholar 

  28. Thoenes W (1961) Die Mikromorphologie des Nephron in ihrer Beziehung zur Funktion. Klin Wschr 39:504–518

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zeuthen T (1982) Relations between intracellular ion activities and extracellular osmolarity in Necturus gallbladder epithelium. J Membr Biol 66:109–121

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zeuthen T (1983) Ion activities in the lateral intercellular spaces of gallbladder epithelium transporting at low external osmolarities. J Membr Biol 76:113–122

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. O. Ikonomov

    Present address: Department of Physiology, Medical Academy, 1. G. Sofiisky St., 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria

  2. M. Simon

    Present address: Department of Pathophysiology, Medical Academy, ul. Swiecickiego 6, PL-60-781, Poznan, Poland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum der Physiologie, Klinikum der J. W. Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-6000, Frankfurt 70, Federal Republic of Germany

    E. Frömter

Authors
  1. O. Ikonomov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Simon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Frömter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ikonomov, O., Simon, M. & Frömter, E. Electrophysiological studies on lateral intercellular spaces ofNecturus gallbladder epithelium. Pflugers Arch. 403, 301–307 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583604

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00583604

Key words

Search

Navigation