The esophageal submucosal glands (SMG) secrete HCO(3)(-) and mucus into the esophageal lumen, where they contribute to acid clearance and epithelial protection. This study characterized the ion transport mechanisms linked to HCO(3)(-) secretion in SMG. We localized ion transporters using immunofluorescence, and we examined their expression by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. We measured HCO(3)(-) secretion by using pH stat and the isolated perfused esophagus. Using double labeling with Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase as a marker, we localized Na(+)-coupled bicarbonate transporter (NBCe1) and Cl(-)-HCO(3)(-) exchanger (SLC4A2/AE2) to the basolateral membrane of duct cells. Expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator channel (CFTR) was confirmed by immunofluorescence, RT-PCR, and in situ hybridization. We identified anion exchanger SLC26A6 at the ducts' luminal membrane and Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) (NKCC1) at the basolateral membrane of mucous and duct cells. pH stat experiments showed that elevations in cAMP induced by forskolin or IBMX increased HCO(3)(-) secretion. Genistein, an activator of CFTR, which does not increase intracellular cAMP, also stimulated HCO(3)(-) secretion, whereas glibenclamide, a Cl(-) channel blocker, and bumetanide, a Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) blocker, decreased it. CFTR(inh)-172, a specific CFTR channel blocker, inhibited basal HCO(3)(-) secretion as well as stimulation of HCO(3)(-) secretion by IBMX. This is the first report on the presence of CFTR channels in the esophagus. The role of CFTR in manifestations of esophageal disease in cystic fibrosis patients remains to be determined.

Gastric parietal cell apical membranes must protect the cell from the extremely low pH and wide variations in osmolality of the gastric juice. To characterize the permeability properties of gastric apical membranes, we have measured passive permeabilities to water, protons, NH3, and small nonelectrolytes of membrane vesicles derived from parietal cells of fasted animals and fed animals. Both preparations are known to be highly enriched in H+/K(+)-ATPase, the enzyme responsible for acidifying the gastric contents. The preparations behaved as single populations, and their permeability properties were similar in all respects, permitting pooling of the results. This similarity suggests that insertion of tubulovesicles into the apical membrane does not change the behavior of the lipid bilayer. Osmotic water permeability (Pf) averaged (mean +/- SD) (2.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(-4) cm/s, a value 10-fold lower than that obtained in lecithin large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) and similar to that obtained in other water-tight epithelia. Similarly, ammonia permeability (PNH3) was low [(4.4 +/- 2.3) x 10(-3) cm/s] and 10 times below that of lecithin LUV. By contrast, proton permeability (PH+) was surprisingly high (0.030 +/- 0.011 cm/s) and similar to that of lecithin LUV. These results suggest that the pathway for proton permeation differs from that of water and NH3. Nonelectrolyte permeabilities were strikingly similar to those obtained in another water-tight epithelium, the toad urinary bladder. Moreover, these permeabilities followed Overton's rule in that permeability varied in accordance with the oil-water partition coefficient. We conclude that the gastric apical membrane, like that of several renal epithelia, is relatively water-tight and exhibits low permeabilities to small nonelectrolytes. These properties are likely to be essential to the ability of this membrane to perform its barrier function.

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