Intracellular potassium activity and the role of potassium in transepithelial salt transport in the human reabsorptive sweat duct

We have measured the intracellular potassium activity, [K+]i and the mechanisms of transcellular K+ transport in reabsorptive sweat duct (RSD) using intracellular ion-sensitive microelectrodes (ISMEs). The mean value of [K+]i in RSD is 79.8 +/- 4.1 mM (n = 39). Under conditions of microperfusion, the [K+]i is above equilibrium across both the basolateral membrane, BLM (5.5 times) and the apical membrane, APM (7.8 times). The Na+/K+ pump inhibitor ouabain reduced [K+]i is insensitive to the Na+/K+/2 Cl- cotransport inhibitor bumetanide in the bath. Cl- substitution in the lumen had no effect on [K+]i. In contrast, Cl- substitution in the bath (basolateral side) depolarized BLM from -26.0 +/- 2.6 mV to -4.7* +/- 2.4 mV (n = 3; *indicates significant difference) and decreased [K+]i from 76.0 +/- 15.2 mM to 57.7* +/- 12.7 mM (n = 3). Removal of K+ in the bath decreased [K+]i from 76.3 +/- 15.0 mM to 32.3 +/- 7.6 mM (n = 4) while depolarizing the BLM from -32.5 +/- 4.1 mV to -28.3* +/- 3.0 mV (n = 4). Raising the [K+] in the bath by 10-fold increased [K+]i from 81.7 +/- 9.0 mM to 95.0* +/- 13.5 mM and depolarized the BLM from -25.7 +/- 2.4 mV to -21.3* +/- 2.9 mV (n = 4). The K+ conductance inhibitor, Ba2+, in the bath also increased [K+]i from 85.8 +/- 6.7 mM to 107.0* +/- 11.5 mM (n = 4) and depolarized BLM from -25.8 +/- 2.2 mV to -17.0* +/- 3.1 mV (n = 4). Amiloride at 10(-6) M increased [K+]i from 77.5 +/- 18.8 mM to 98.8* +/- 21.6 mM (n = 4) and hyperpolarized both the BLM (from -27.5 +/- 1.4 mV to -46.0* +/- 3.5 mV, n = 4). However, amiloride at 10(-4) M decreased [K+]i from 64.5 +/- 0.9 mM to 36.0* +/- 9.9 mM and hyperpolarized both the BLM (from -24.7 +/- 1.4 mV to -43.5* +/- 4.2 mV) and APM (from -18.3 +/- 0.9 mV to -43.5* +/- 4.2 mV, n = 6). In contrast to the observations at the BLM, substitution of K+ or application of Ba2+ in the lumen had no effect on the [K+]i or the electrical properties of RSD, indicating the absence of a K+ conductance in the APM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)