Single-channel response of hamster oocytes to fertilization with homologous spermatozoa

Electrophysiological events occur early after fertilization, along with changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Passive electrical parameters were determined in golden hamster oocytes by whole cell patch-clamp method. In separate experiments the effect of 4-aminopyridine on resting oocytes was tested. The single-channel patch clamp configuration was employed to assess the electrical response to fertilization with homologous sperm. Structure of oocytes submitted to patch clamp was evaluated with scanning electron microscopy and found to be preserved.Oocyte diameter was 70.2 ± 2.2 µm; their resting parameters were: membrane potential 23.8 ± 0.8 mV; total membrane specific resistance 519.1 ± 94.6 Ù.cm2, and specific capacity 0.99 ± 0.03 µF.cm-2. Total membrane current was decreased by 42 % by 4-aminopyridine.Control oocytes and oocytes exposed to sperm differed in their membrane currents in response to a voltage ramp clamping membrane potential from - 100 mV to + 100 mV. In both cases, currents were largest at the most negative potentials, but sperm-exposed oocytes had larger currents. Additionally, while in controloocytes the current was inward at negative potentials but outward at positive potentials, in the presence of spermatozoa oocytes was inward within the whole voltage range tested. This latter current may represent Ca2+ en try

Indomethacin reduces short-circuit current and oxygen consumption in normal and chronically hypoxic rat colon / La indometacina reduce la corriente de cortocircuito y el consumo de oxígeno en elcolon distal de ratas con hipoxia crónica

Chronic hypobaric hypoxia is a physiological environmental stressor. While its effects on most major organsystems have been extensively studied, few works have addressed hypoxia-induced changes in intestinal transport.The effects of cyclooxygenase blockade with indomethacin on short-circuit current (Isc) and oxygen consumption(QO2) of the distal colonic epithelium ofcontrol rats and rats submitted to hypoxia for 10 days at 0.52 atm were studied. Isolated mucosae weremounted in an Ussing chamber modified for measuring QO2 while preserving transepithelial vectorial transport. Amiloride was added to the mucosal hemichamber to block a sodium component of Isc present in hypoxic rats. In this condition, basal Isc did not differ between the hypoxic and the control group, but QO2 was higher in the former. Indomethacin (30 ìmol/L)reduced Isc to the same extent in both groups, but QO2 reduction was larger in the hypoxic group. Pharmacologicalblockade of chloride secretion and a low-chloride solution abolished the indomethacin-induced reductionsof Isc in both groups, and the reduction of QO2 in controls, and attenuated but did not suppress the QO2 reduction in the hypoxic group. Linear regressionanalysis of QO2 changes versus Isc changes yielded a significant correlation for both groups, with regression lines with the same slope, but a higher position in hypoxic hypoxic animals. Results suggest that spontaneously released prostaglandins are equally important for maintaining colonic chloride secretion in hypoxic as in normoxic rats, but that, in the former, indomethacin has an additional effect on QO2 which is unrelated to ion transport.

La hipoxia hipobárica crónica es un estresante ambiental fisiológico. Aunque sus efectos se han estudiado en lamayoría de los sistemas orgánicos, hay pocos trabajos sobre su influencia en el transporte intestinal. Se estudió el efecto del bloqueo de la ciclooxigenasa con indometacina sobre la corriente de cortocircuito (Isc), el consumo de oxígeno (QO2) del epitelio del colon distal de ratas controles y fueron sometidas a hipoxia durante 10 díasa 0,52 atm. Se montaron preparados de mucosa aislada en una cámara de Ussing modificada para medir QO2 preservando el transporte vectorial transepitelial. Se añadió amilorida a la hemicámara mucosa para bloquear un componente de la Isc debido al sodio presente en ratas hipóxicas. En esta condición, la Isc basal fue similar en ambos grupos, pero el QO2 fue mayor enlos controles. La indometacina (30 mmol/L) redujo igualmente la Isc en ambos grupos; siendo la disminuciónde QO2 mayor en el hipóxico. El bloqueo de la secreció de cloruro (farmacológico y por omisión del ión) suprimió la disminución de Isc en ambos grupos y deQO2 en el control, y redujo, sin abolir, la disminución de QO2 en el hipóxico. El análisis de regresión lineal de cambios en QO2 versus cambios en Isc mostró en ambos grupos correlación significativa con líneas de regresiónde igual pendiente, pero más alta en el hipóxico. Los resultados sugieren que las prostaglandinas liberadas espontáneamente son igualmente importantes en mantener la secreción de cloruro en ratas hipóxicas y normóxicas,pero en las primeras la indometacina tiene además un efecto depresor del QO2 no relacionado con el transporte iónico.

Increased oxygen consumption caused by cAMP- and Ca2+-mediated chloride secretion in rat distal colon

El transporte iónico epitelial exige aporte de ATP provisto por el metabolismo aeróbico. En el colon distal de rata, la secreción de cloruro explica la mayor parte del transporte electrogénico medido como corriente de cortocircuito (ISC). La inhibición de la secreción basal de cloruro reduce el consumo epitelial de oxígeno (QO2), mientras que la serotonina aumenta proporcionalmente ISC y QO2. El efecto de la serotonina es mediado por receptores 5HT4 acoplados a adenilato ciclasa medianteproteína G estimulante (GS). En este trabajo seestudió si el aumento del QO2 asociado con la secreción de cloruro es un efecto común a otros agentes que actúan sobre cAMP o Ca2+. Los efectos del inhibidor de la fosfodiesterasa, 3-isobutil-1-metilxantina (IBMX) y del agonista muscarínico carbacol (ambos a 0.1 mmol/L) se evaluaron en la mucosa aislada del colon distal de rata montado en una cámara de Ussing modificada para determinación continua de la concentración de oxígeno, permitiendo medir QO2. Se compararon la ISC y el QO2 basales con las resultantes del añadido de serotonina (control activo), IBMX, carbacol, o IBMX y carbacol. Todos aumentaron proporcionalmente ISC y QO2. Aunque el efecto de IBMX solo fue modesto y el del carbacol fue breve, se observó una sinergia cuando fueron agregados simultáneamente. El análisis de regresión lineal mostró una correlación significativa entre los incrementos de ISC y de QO2 (r2 = 0.746; P menor que 0.0001). Por tanto, la estimulación de la secreción de cloruro aumenta el QO2 independientemente de la vía efectora intracelular involucrada. Estos resultados corroboran el estrecho acoplamiento entre secreción de cloruro y QO2 en este epitelio.

Epithelial ion transport is dependent on ATP supply provided by aerobic metabolism. In the rat distal colon chloride secretion accounts for the largest portion of electrogenic transport measured as the short-circuit current (ISC). Inhibition of basal chloride secretion decreases epithelial oxygen consumption (QO2) in this tissue, while serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) proportionally increases both Isc and QO2. The effect of serotonin in this tissue is mainly mediated by 5HT4 receptors linked to adenylate cyclase through a stimulant G protein (GS). This work assessed whether the chloride secretion-induced increase in QO2 is a common characteristic of secretagogues, which act through either cAMP-dependent or Ca2+-dependent mechanisms. The effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1- methylxantine (IBMX) and muscarinic agonist carbachol (both 0.1 mmol/L) were studied in rat distal colon isolated mucosa mounted in an Ussing chamber adapted for continuous measurement of oxygen concentration, allowing determination of QO2. Baseline ISC and QO2 were compared with ISC and QO2 after addition of either serotonin as an active control, IBMX, carbachol or IBMX plus carbachol. Each drug increased proportionally Isc and QO2. Although the effect of IBMX alone was modest and that of carbachol was short-lived, a synergic effect on Isc and QO2 was seen when both drugs were simultaneously added. Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between increases in ISC and QO2 (r2 = 0.746; P < 0.0001). Thus, stimulation of chloride secretion increases QO2 regardless of the intracellular pathway involved. These results extend previous findings, corroborating the close coupling between chloride secretion and QO2 in this epithelium