Na+-H+ exchange and intracellular pH regulation in colonocytes from the chick

The involvement of Na+-H+ exchange in chicken colonocyte homeostasis was investigated. Colonocyte pH (pH(i)) was measured with 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6-carboxyfluore (BCECF). The proton ionophore FCCP reduced basal pH(i), indicating that cytosolic [H+] is not at electrochemical equilibrium across the membrane. External Na+ removal decreased pH(i) and subsequent addition of Na+ returns pH(i) towards its control value. The rate of pH(i) recovery from an acid load was Na+-dependent (K-m for Na+, 24 mM) and inhibited by EIPA (IC50, 0.18 mu M). The initial rate of Na+-dependent cell alkalization increased as the pH(i) decreased from 7.2 to 6.6 (Hill coefficient, 1.88). Radioisotope flux studies revealed that an outwardly directed proton gradient transiently stimulated Na+ uptake into BBMV isolated from the chick colon. EIPA and amiloride inhibited pH gradient-driven Na+ uptake (IC50 of 4 mu M and 32 mu M, respectively). The K-m for Na+ of pH gradient-driven Na+ uptake was 6.8 mM. The Hill coefficient of the relationship between the initial rate of pH-driven Na+ uptake and the intravesicular pH was 0.70. It is concluded that a Na+-H+ exchanger is involved in pH(i) homeostasis in chicken colonocytes and that these cells possess at least two types of Na+-H+ antiporters with different sensitivity to EIPA and different kinetic parameters.