The significance of the "leaky" tight junction might be understood better if cells of the epithelial monolayer possessed mechanisms to regulate molecular flow through the junction. To test this possibility, Necturus gallbladder, a representative leaky epithelium, was studied before, during, and after mucosal exposure to plant cytokinins and two other microfilament-active drugs, cytochalasin B and phalloidin. Concomitant with morphological changes in microfilaments, cytokinins induced rapid reversible increases in transepithelial resistance and potential difference (PD) and decreases in NaCl dilution potentials, with no change in the ratio of relative cell membrane resistances. Cytochalasin B (0.2-1.2 microM) and phalloidin (0.6-12.7 microM) caused similar changes in transepithelial resistance and PD. When the intramembranous structure of tight junctions was studied by freeze fracture, peak cytokinin-induced increments in transepithelial resistance were associated with more disorder in the strand meshwork resulting in a small increase in tight junction depth, but there was no evidence of de novo strand assembly. These studies suggest that permeability of the tight junction of Necturus gallbladder is subject to rapid reversible modulation, possibly under cytoskeletal control.

Chloride channels are present in the plasma and intracellular membranes of most cells. Previously, using the ligand indanyloxyacetic acid (IAA), we purified four major proteins from bovine kidney cortex membrane vesicles. These proteins gave rise to chloride channel activity when reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles. Two ofthese proteins (97 and 27 kDa) were found to be drug-binding proteins by N-terminal sequence analysis. Antibodies raised to the 64-kDa protein stained only this protein on immunoblots, and only this protein was present after purification on an immunoaffinity column. In addition, these same antibodies were able to deplete IAA-94 inhibitable chloride channel activity from solubilized kidney membranes. Of fractions obtained from the gel filtration ofsolubilized kidney membranes, only those containing this 64-kDa protein exhibited measurable chloride channel activity. Immunoblots of a variety of species and cell types, both epithelial and nonepithelial, revealed that this protein is ubiquitous and highly conserved. Immunocytochemistry in CFPAC-1 cells revealed staining for this protein on the apical plasma membrane and in the membranes of intracellular organelles. These results demonstrate that the integral membrane protein p64 is a component of chloride channels present in both epithelial plasma membrane and the membranes of intracellular organelles.

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The electrical properties of the proximal tubule of the in vivoNecturus kidney were investigated by injecting current (as rectangular waves) into the lumen or into the epithelium of single tubules and by studying the resulting changes of transepithelial (VL) and/or cell membrane potential (V c) at various distances from the source. In some experiments paired measurements of VL and Vc were performed at two abscissas x and x'. The luminal length constant of about 1,030 pm was shown to provide a good estimate of the transepithelial resistance, specific resistance (Ra'E = 420 ~. cm 2) and/or per unit length (ram = 1.3 X 104 ~.cm). The apparent intraepithelial length constant was subject to distortions arising from concomitant current spread in the lumen. The resistances of luminal membrane (rL), basolateral membrane (rs), and shunt pathway (rs) were estimated by two independent methods at 3.5 • 104, 1.2 • 104, and 1.7 X 104 ~.cm, respectively. The corresponding specific resistances were close to 1,200, 600, and 600 ~.cm 2. There are two main conclusions of this study. (a) The resistances of cell membranes and shunt pathway are of the same order of magnitude. The figure of the shunt resistance is at variance with the notion that the proximal tubule of Necturus is a leaky epithelium. (b) A rigorous assessment of the conductive properties of concentric cylindrical double cables (such as renal tubules) requires that electrical interactions arising from one cable to another be taken into account. Appropriate equations were developed to deal with this problem.

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Transepithelial potential difference (p.d.) was measured in the proximal tubule of Necturus kidney in vivo, by means of microelectrodes filled either with a 3M KClion or with a Ringer's solution for amphibians. The average transepithelial p.d., measured with KCl-tips, was: -1.4 +/- 2.4 mV (early convolutions), -0.1 +/- 2.0 mV (middle convolutions) and +0.1 +/- 2.4 mV (straight segment). The corresponding values obtained with Ringer's-filled microelectrodes were -2.3 +/- 1.8 mV, -1.3 +/- 1.1 mV and +0.1 +/- 1.2 mV, respectively. Tip localization into the lumen was ascertained by luminal injection of either oil (KCl electrode measurements) or artificial solutions which produced a measurable shift of transepithelial p.d. (determinations obtained with Ringer's-tips). Transepithelial p.d. in split-drops (mean reabsorptive half time 27.1 +/- 2.5 min) was -1.8 +/- 1.1 mV. The magnitude of transepithelial p.d. is discussed with respect to an equivalent electrical circuit; it is shown that high transepithelial p.d.'s are inconsistent with the known values of relative conductances of cell membranes in series and shunt pathway, respectively.