Chloride transport of frog gastric fundus: effects of omeprazole

Role of Na-K-2Cl cotransporter-1 in gastric secretion of nonacidic fluid and pepsinogen

Na-K-2Cl cotransporter-1 (NKCC) has been detected at exceptionally high levels in the gastric mucosa of several species, prompting speculation that it plays important roles in gastric secretion. To investigate this possibility, we 1) immunolocalized NKCC protein in the mouse gastric mucosa, 2) compared the volume and composition of gastric fluid from NKCC-deficient mice and their normal littermates, and 3) measured acid secretion and electrogenic ion transport by chambered mouse gastric mucosa. NKCC was localized to the basolateral margin of parietal cells, mucous neck cells, and antral base cells. In NKCC-deficient mice, gastric secretions of Na+, K+, Cl-, fluid, and pepsinogen were markedly impaired, whereas secretion of acid was normal. After stimulation with forskolin or 8-bromo-cAMP, chambered corpus mucosa vigorously secreted acid, and this was accompanied by an increase in transmucosal electrical current. Inhibition of NKCC with bumetanide reduced current to resting levels but had no effect on acid output. Although prominent pathways for basolateral Cl- uptake (NKCC) and apical Cl- exit [cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)] were found in antral base cells, no impairment in gastric secretion was detected in CFTR-deficient mice. Our results establish that NKCC contributes importantly to secretions of Na+, K+, Cl-, fluid, and pepsinogen by the gastric mucosa through a process that is electrogenic in character and independent of acid secretion. The probable source of the NKCC-dependent nonacidic electrogenic fluid secretion is the parietal cell. The observed dependence of pepsinogen secretion on NKCC supports the concept that a nonacidic secretory stream elaborated from parietal cells facilitates flushing of the proenzyme from the gastric gland lumen.

Ventilatory compensation of the alkaline tide during digestion in the snake Boa constrictor

The increased metabolic rate during digestion is associated with changes in arterial acid-base parameters that are caused by gastric acid secretion (the 'alkaline tide'). Net transfer of HCl to the stomach lumen causes an increase in plasma HCO3- levels, but arterial pH does not change because of a ventilatory compensation that counters the metabolic alkalosis. It seems, therefore, that ventilation is controlled to preserve pH and not PCO2 during the postprandial period. To investigate this possibility, we determined arterial acid-base parameters and the metabolic response to digestion in the snake Boa constrictor, where gastric acid secretion was inhibited pharmacologically by oral administration of omeprazole. The increase in oxygen consumption of omeprazole-treated snakes after ingestion of 30% of their own body mass was quantitatively similar to the response in untreated snakes, although the peak of the metabolic response occurred later (36 h versus 24 h). Untreated control animals exhibited a large increase in arterial plasma HCO3- concentration of approximately 12 mmol l(-1), but arterial pH only increased by 0.12 pH units because of a simultaneous increase in arterial PCO2 by about 10 mmHg. Omeprazole virtually abolished the changes in arterial pH and plasma HCO3- concentration during digestion and there was no increase in arterial PCO2. The increased arterial PCO2 during digestion is not caused, therefore, by the increased metabolism during digestion or a lower ventilatory responsiveness to ventilatory stimuli during a presumably relaxed state in digestion. Furthermore, the constant arterial PCO2, in the absence of an alkaline tide, of omeprazole-treated snakes strongly suggests that pH rather than PCO2 normally affects chemoreceptor activity and ventilatory drive.

Coordinated regulation of gastric chloride secretion with both acid and alkali secretion

Gastric secretion of hydrochloric acid requires protons and chloride, yet the mechanisms and regulation of gastric chloride secretion remain unclear. We developed an in vivo technique to simultaneously measure acid/base and chloride secretion into the gastric lumen of anesthetized rats. The cannulated stomach lumen was perfused with weakly pH-buffered chloride-free solution containing a chloride-sensitive fluorophore [5 microM N-(ethoxycarbonylmethyl)-6-methoxyquinolinium bromide (MQAE)]. Gastric acid and chloride secretion was detected in gastric effluents by 1) flow-through pH electrode and 2) MQAE fluorescence. Gastric effluent was also collected at 1-min intervals for independent determination of chloride amount by chloridometer. In all conditions, both optical and chemical determinations of chloride report similar amounts of secreted chloride. During luminal perfusion with pH 5 solution, net acid and chloride secretion into the lumen was observed. Pentagastrin stimulated both secretions. In contrast, proton pump inhibition (omeprazole) caused alkalinization of the gastric effluent, but chloride secretion was not diminished. During luminal pH 3 perfusion, net alkali secretion was observed, and chloride secretion at luminal pH 3 was greater than pH 5. When tissue is pretreated with omeprazole at luminal pH 3, the addition of prostaglandin E2 synchronously stimulates both alkali and chloride secretion. Results suggest that both acid and alkali secretions are separately coupled with chloride secretion.

The gastric H,K-ATPase blocker lansoprazole is an inhibitor of chloride channels

1. It was postulated that swelling dependent chloride channels are involved in the proton secretion of parietal cells. Since omeprazole, lansoprazole and its acid activated sulphenamide form AG2000 are structurally related to phenol derivatives known to block swelling dependent chloride channels, we set out to test, whether these substances--which are known to block the H,K-ATPase--could also lead to an inhibition of swelling-dependent chloride channels. Swelling-dependent chloride channels--characterized in many different cell types--show highly conserved biophysical and pharmacological features, therefore we investigated the effect of omeprazole, lansoprazole and its acid activated sulphenamide form AG2000 on swelling-dependent chloride channels elicited in fibroblasts, after the reduction of the extracellular osmolarity. 2. Omeprazole, lansoprazole and its acid activated sulphenamide form AG2000 are able to block swelling-dependent chloride channels (IClswell). 3. Lansoprazole and its protonated metabolite AG2000 act on at least two different sites of the IClswell protein: on an extracellular site which seems to be in a functional proximity to the nucleotide binding site, and on an intracellular site which allows the formation of disulfide-bridges. 4. The inhibition of the proton pump and the simultaneous blocking of chloride channels by omeprazole, lansoprazole and its acid activated sulphenamide form AG2000, as described here could be an effective mode to restrict proton secretion in parietal cells.