Apical membrane Na/H exchange is a principal mechanism of renal proximal tubule Na absorption and H secretion, and thick ascending limb H secretion. Based on current data on Na/H exchanger isoforms (NHE-1 to 5), NHE-3 is the likeliest candidate for the apical membrane isoform. The present study localizes NHE-3 in rat kidney using polyclonal antisera against cytoplasmic epitopes of rat NHE-3. These antisera recognized an approximately 87 kD protein in Na/H exchanger-deficient cells transfected with the rat NHE-3 gene but not in mock-transfected cells. All antisera labeled an approximately 87 kD protein in plasma membranes from cortex and outer medulla. Fractionation of cortical membranes showed labeling in apical but not basolateral membranes. Cross linking studies suggested existence of oligomeric forms of the transporter. Immunohistochemistry showed strong staining of the apical membrane of S1 convoluted, and S2 convoluted tubule with lesser staining of the S2 straight tubule and absent staining of S3. Weak staining was observed in thin descending limbs in the inner stripe and intense staining was seen in the apical membrane of medullary and cortical thick ascending limbs. NHE-3 staining was absent in the remainder of the nephron. In summary, NHE-3 is the isoform responsible for NaCl and NaHCO3 absorption in the proximal convoluted tubule, and NaHCO absorption in the thick ascending limb. In the S3 proximal tubule and the distal convoluted tubule, apical membrane Na/H exchange activity is likely mediated by other isoform(s) of the NHE family.

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Chronic metabolic acidosis increases the activity of the proximal tubule apical membrane Na/H antiporter, which is encoded predominantly by the NHE3 isoform. The present studies examined the effect of chronic metabolic acidosis on apical membrane NHE3 protein abundance in rats. Rats subjected to NH4Cl in their drinking water developed a metabolic acidosis, which decreased in magnitude over 14 days. During this time, renal cortical brush-border membrane NHE3 protein abundance, assessed by Western blot, increased progressively (28% at 3 days, 59% at 7 days, and 90% at 14 days). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the acidosis-induced increase in NHE3 abundance occurred in the apical membranes of the S1 and S2 segments of the proximal tubule and the thick ascending limb. NHE3 mRNA abundance was not significantly increased in these animals, whereas phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA abundances were significantly increased. These studies demonstrate that the increase in Na/H antiporter activity seen in metabolic acidosis involves an increase in NHE3 protein abundance, which is distributed along the proximal tubule and the thick ascending limb. In addition, these studies suggest that a component of this adaptation is unrelated to changes in NHE3 mRNA abundance.

The effect of chronic dietary acid on the apical membrane Na/H antiporter and basolateral membrane Na(HCO3)3 symporter was examined in the in vivo microperfused rat proximal tubule. Transporter activity was assayed with the epifluorescent measurement of cell pH using the intracellular, pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, (2'7')-bis(carboxyethyl)-(5,6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). BCECF was calibrated intracellularly, demonstrating similar pH-sensitivity of the dye in control and acidotic animals. In subsequent studies, lumen and peritubular capillaries were perfused to examine Na/H and Na(HCO3)3 transporter activity in the absence of contact with native fluid. The initial rate of change in cell pH (dpHi/dt) was 97, 50, and 44% faster in tubules from acidotic animals when peritubular [HCO31 was changed from 25 to 10 mM in the presence or absence of chloride, or peritubular INal was changed from 147 to 50 mM, respectively. dpHi/dt was 57% faster in tubules from acidotic animals when luminal [Nal was changed from 152 to 0 mM. Buffer capacities, measured using NH3/NIU addition, were similar in the two groups. The results demonstrate that chronic metabolic acidosis causes an adaptation in the intrinsic properties of both the apical membrane Na/H antiporter and basolateral membrane Na(HCO3)3 symporter.

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