Activation of the Na+-K+ pump in frog erythrocytes by catecholamines and phosphodiesterase blockers

K+ and Na+ influx into frog erythrocytes incubated in standard saline was studied using Rb-86 and Na-22 as tracers. 10 mu M isoproterenol (ISP) produced a significant increase in K+ influx for the first 15 min, which was sustained during the entire 60 min of cell incubation. Treatment of red cells with the phosphodiesterase (PDE) blockers theophylline (THEO, 1 and 5 mM) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX, 0.5 mM) was also accompanied by an enhancement in K+ influx. A distinct additive effect on K+ influx into red cells was found when ISP and THEO or IBMX were added together. The increase in K+ transport induced by ISP plus IBMX was totally abolished by pretreatment of red cells with 0.1 mM ouabain. The ouabain sensitive K+ influx in frog erythrocytes was elevated in the presence of ISP plus IBMX to 2.05 +/- 0.45, as compared with the control level of 0.39 +/- 0.11 mmol/L cells/hr (P < 0.001). Similar effects of ISP and IBMX on K+ influx were observed after chloride was replaced by nitrate. A dose-related increase in K+ influx into frog erythrocytes was observed at ISP concentrations of 10(-8)-10(-6) M, with a half-maximal stimulatory concentration of approximately 0.02 mu M. The effects of ISP (10(-8)-10(-5) M) on K+ transport were completely abolished with 10 mu M of the beta-adrenergic blocker propranolol, but alpha-adrenergic antagonists (phentolamine, prazosin, and yohimbine) did not alter the ISP-induced increase in K+ influx. The drugs tested had no effect on Na-22 influx in frog red cells, but ISP produced a small decline (13%) in intracellular Na+ concentration. Thus, our study indicates that catecholamines and PDE blockers enhance K+ (Rb-86) transport in frog erythrocytes mediated by Na+-K+ pump activity. The frog erythrocyte membrane may serve as a convenient model to investigate the hormonal modulation of the Na+-K+ pump. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Inc.