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The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lying between the neural retina and the choroid, performs as a transport organ for solutes and water between the choriocapillaries and the subretinal space. It also has the function to maintain the microenvironment of photoreceptors including the regulation of calcium ions during light or dark adaptation. In order to further elucidate the transport functions of the RPE, apical membranes were isolated from RPE by differential precipitation with divalent ions. In this work bovine tissues were used as well as elasmobranch tissues. For the latter, we have already purified and characterized membrane vesicles in a previous paper. Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, and 5'-nucleotidase, which are marker enzymes of the apical membrane, were highly enriched in the final membrane fraction. The majority of the fraction consists of right side out vesicles. The fluorescent indicator for sodium, SBFI, or the calcium specific indicator, Fura-2, were pre-loaded into the apical membrane vesicles of RPE of either dogfish eyes or bovine eyes. When an outwardly-directed Ca2+ gradient was formed across the vesicular membranes, the Ca2+ influx was also enhanced by 136% for dogfish RPE and 167% for bovine RPE. This Na+ gradient dependent Ca2+ influx was blocked by bepridil, an antiarrhythmic agent which is a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger inhibitor. These results indicate that a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger is present in the apical membrane of bovine and dogfish RPE.

When the Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probe, Fura-2, or the Na(+)-sensitive probe, SBFI, in their cell permeable forms or the Cl(-)-specific probe, SPQ, were incubated with plasma membrane vesicles prepared from dogfish and bovine lenses fibers, there was a selective accumulation of the ion-specific probes within the vesicles. The SBFI and Fura-2 fluorescent excitation ratios of 340 nm to 380 nm (em: 505 nm) in the presence of an outwardly-directed Na+ gradient across the vesicles membrane, indicate that the influx of Ca2+ is increased by 152.5% and 147.4% for dogfish and bovine vesicles, respectively. The Na+ influx into the vesicles is also enhanced by 154.1% for dogfish and 149.1% for bovine lens when an outwardly-directed Ca2+ was present. This stimulation is not affected when either 50 microM valinomycin, or 50 mM K+ is present. The activity of this bidirectional Ca2+/Na+ exchanger could be inhibited by 100 microM bepridil or 200 microM La3+. The entrance behaviour of Cl- as monitored by the SPQ fluorescent signal indicates that, the Cl- influx is Na(+)-dependent. The Cl- influx is stimulated 152.8% and 187.6% for dogfish and bovine lens, respectively, when an inwardly-directed Na+ gradient is present, and is further enhanced when a K+ gradient is also present. The stoichiometry of Na+ to Cl- entering the vesicles was 1:2. This Na+,K+ 2Cl- cotransporter is not affected by 20 microM valinomycin or 50 mM K+. However, the transporter is completely inhibited by 50 microM furosemide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Apical membrane vesicles of dogfish and bovine lens epithelium were prepared by differential centrifugation and Mg2+ precipitation. Enrichment of the apical enzyme markers, for Na+,K(+)-ATPase was achieved. Na+,K(+)-ATPase was enriched 25.9-fold and 23.6-fold for dogfish and bovine lens epithelia, respectively, and acid phosphatase was enriched 10.4-fold and 12.6-fold, respectively. There was no enrichment of the cytoplasmic marker, NADH reductase. The majority of the apical membrane vesicles isolated from both dogfish and bovine lens epithelia were oriented right-side out. Electron micrographs of the purified vesicles show the presence of circular sealed vesicles with an average size of approximately 0.2-0.5 microns. Incubation of the vesicles with either the acetoxymethyl ester of SBFI, a new indicator for sodium, or with Fura-2, the calcium-specific indicator, leads to a large accumulation of the de-esterified SBFI or Fura-2 in the lens epithelial apical vesicles as determined by fluorescence measurements. When an outwardly direct Ca2+ gradient is formed across the vesicular membranes, the influx of Na+ is stimulated 77.8 and 63.0% for dogfish and bovine lens epithelia, respectively. When an outwardly directed Na+ gradient is formed across the vesicular membranes, the Ca2+ influx is also greatly enhanced. Both cases indicate that there is a bidirectional Ca2+/Na+ exchanger present in the apical side of the lens epithelial cell. The exchanger is inhibited by 50 microM bepridil or by 200 microM La3+. The stimulatory effects are also observed in membrane vesicles that are 'short-circuited' with valinomycin and high concentrations of K+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)