The three mechanisms of intracellular chloride accumulation in vascular smooth muscle of human umbilical and placental arteries.

Recordings of membrane potential (Em) and intracellular [Cl-] ([Cl-]i) were made from the smooth muscle of human umbilical and placental arteries, using double-barrelled, ion-sensitive microelectrodes. In both arteries, [Cl-]i was above equilibrium with Em. In the umbilical artery, [Cl-]i was 33.8+/-0.9 mM (+/-SD, n=19) and Em -54.9+/-1.3 mV and in the placental artery respectively 35.1+/-0.7 mM (n=17) and -50.6+/-0.9 mV. In both arteries, [Cl-]i was reduced and Em hyperpolarised significantly by successive additions of 100 microM 4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS), 10 microM bumetanide and 1 mM acetazolamide, thus revealing the presence of Cl-/HCO3- exchange, (Na+K+Cl) cotransport and "pump III". In the presence of all three inhibitors, [Cl-]i was in equilibrium with Em. As in earlier studies on rat arterial smooth and cardiac muscle, pump III was unaffected by DIDS, bumetanide, metolazone and the removal of Na+, partly inhibited by chlorothiazide and fully inhibited by ethacrynic acid. The results are discussed in terms of the possibility that of chloride accumulating systems may regulate vasomotor tone in the foetoplacental unit.