The surface epithelium of the stomach is covered by a thick, continuous layer of mucus gel, into which enters secreted bicarbonate (HCO;) 11 I. I t has been suggested that this mucus-HCO, barrier may form the first line o f defence against attack by intraluminal contents. The regulation of the intracellular coupling mechanisms leading to HCO; secretion have been the subject o f several studies ...

Cholangiocytes absorb and secrete fluid, modifying primary canalicular bile. In several Cl(-)-secreting epithelia, Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransport is a basolateral Cl(-) uptake pathway facilitating apical Cl(-) secretion. To determine if cholangiocytes possess similar mechanisms independent of CO2/HCO, we assessed Cl(-)-dependent secretion in rat liver isolated polarized bile duct units (IBDUs) b...

We studied the regulation of intracellular pH (pH) in single cultured astrocytes passaged once from the hippocampus of the rat, using the dye 2',7'-biscarboxyethyl-5,6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) to monitor pH. Intrinsic buffering power (beta) was 10.5 mM (pH unit) at pH 7.0, and decreased linearly with pH; the best-fit line to the data had a slope of -10.0 mM (pH unit). In the absence of HCO, p...

PURPOSE In this study, the involvement of signaling pathways in the regulation of HCO(3)(-) permeability across the apical membrane of the corneal endothelium was examined. METHODS Cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells (CBCECs) were grown to confluence on permeable membranes. Apical and basolateral sides were perfused with a HCO(3)(-)-rich Cl(-)-free Ringer's solution (28.5 mM; pH 7.5). R...

The mammalian esophagus has the capacity to secrete a HCO(3)(-) and mucin-rich fluid in the esophageal lumen. These secretions originate from the submucosal glands (SMG) and can contribute to esophageal protection against refluxed gastric acid. The cellular mechanisms by which glandular cells achieve these secretions are largely unknown. To study this phenomenon, we used the pH-stat technique t...

We have taken new, broader-band and higherresolution profiles of Galactic 1667 MHz OH and 89.2 GHz HCO+ absorption toward several compact, extragalactic mmwave continuum sources. The profiles are generally stable – quite similar between epochs and between the two species – but with occasional time-variations and differences. Typical linewidths are 1.0 km s−1 (FWHM) in either OH or HCO+ and ther...

The pancreatic duct epithelium in the guinea-pig and many other species secretes HCO(3)(-) at concentrations approaching 150 mM. This cannot be explained by conventional models based upon HCO(3)(-) secretion via an anion exchanger at the luminal membrane because: 1) under these conditions, the Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-) concentration gradients would favour HCO(3)(-) reabsorption rather than secretion,...

This study was designed to assess the relative importance of Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-) secretion to mucociliary transport rate (MCT) in ex vivo porcine tracheas. MCT was measured in one group of tissues that was exposed to adventitial HCO(3)(-)-free solution while a parallel group was exposed to adventitial HCO(3)(-)-replete solution. After measurement of baseline MCT rates, acetylcholine (ACh) was a...

The esophageal submucosal glands (SMG) secrete HCO(3)(-) and mucus into the esophageal lumen, where they contribute to acid clearance and epithelial protection. This study characterized the ion transport mechanisms linked to HCO(3)(-) secretion in SMG. We localized ion transporters using immunofluorescence, and we examined their expression by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. We measured HCO(3)...

Metabolic acidosis causes a reversal of polarity of HCO(3)(-) flux in the cortical collecting duct (CCD). In CCDs incubated in vitro in acid media, beta-intercalated (HCO(3)(-)-secreting) cells are remodeled to functionally resemble alpha-intercalated (H(+)-secreting) cells. A similar remodeling of beta-intercalated cells, in which the polarity of H(+) pumps and Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchangers is re...