Extracellular ATP raises cytosolic calcium and activates basolateral chloride conductance in Necturus proximal tubule

1. Extracellular nucleotides modulate ionic transport mechanisms in various epithelia. In the present study, we investigated the effects of extracellular ATP on the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) and electrophysiological properties of Necturus maculosus proximal convoluted tubule (PCT). 2. ATP raised [Ca2+](i) in microdissected fura-2-loaded PCTs (half-maximal effect, similar to 15 mu mol l(-1) ATP). The initial ATP-induced changes in [Ca2+](i) were not blunted by the removal of external Ca2+ nor by the presence of Ca2+ channel blockers, but were abolished by thapsigargin and suramin. The sequence for the potency of various agonists on [Ca2+](i) was 2-methylthio-ATP (2MeSATP) = ADP = ATP >> UTP, 2',3'-O-(4-benzoilbenzoil) ATP (BzATP), alpha,beta-methylene ATP (AMPCPP), adenosine. 3. In vivo electrophysiological measurements, showed that 100 mu mol l(-1) peritubular ATP added to a Ringer solution reduced the basolateral cell membrane potential (V-m) and increased the cell membrane input conductance. In a low Cl- solution, this ATP-induced depolarization was enhanced. These effects were inhibited by 1 mmol l(-1) SITS, consistent with the activation of a basolateral Cl- conductance. 4. The ATP-induced change in V-m was reproduced by ADP but not by UTP or adenosine, and was prevented by suramin. 5. The ATP-induced membrane depolarization was not influenced by thapsigargin, BAPTA AM, or staurosporin and was not reproduced by manoeuvres increasing [Ca2+](i) or intracellular cAMP content. 6. We conclude that, in Necturus PCT, a P2y receptor mobilizes Ca2+ mainly from intracellular pools and increases a basolateral Cl- conductance, G(Cl). The activation of G(Cl) occurs by a mechanism which is not related either to an increase in [Ca2+](i) or cAMP content, or to PKC activation.