Effect of atriopeptin II on isolated opercular epithelium of Fundulus heteroclitus.

The effect of atriopeptin II (ANF) on the in vitro opercular epithelium was investigated by use of short-circuit current techniques. Serosal addition of ANF stimulates chloride secretion (short-circuit current) 19% above control values with a 7% increase in tissue conductance. Mucosal addition of ANF to the opercular epithelium was without effect. The ANF stimulation of the current was dose dependent with a maximum at 10(-7) M. The addition of ANF had no effect on the current or the conductance of opercular epithelia bathed in Cl--free Ringer. The opercular current could be stimulated above the ANF response by isoproterenol (10(-6) M). Pretreatment of the opercular epithelium with propranolol (10(-5) M) did not inhibit the stimulation of the short-circuit current by ANF but did inhibit the isoproterenol response indicating that the ANF stimulatory activity was independent of the beta-adrenergic receptors. The ANF-stimulated short-circuit current was found in operculi pretreated with tetrodotoxin (10(-6) or 10(-5) M) or diltiazem (10(-4) M) indicating the ANF response was not due to nerve stimulation. Pretreatment of opercular tissue with dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, or 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (10(-4) M) had no effect on the ANF stimulatory response. Opercular epithelia from short-term freshwater-adapted killifish also showed the ANF-induced response. The stimulation of chloride secretion in Fundulus heteroclitus chloride cells by ANF may have a role in teleost ion regulation.