Cl transport in the frog cornea: an electron-microprobe analysis.

The intracellular electrolyte concentrations of the bullfrog corneal epithelium have been determined in thin freeze-dried cryosections using the technique of electron-microprobe analysis. Under control conditions, transepithelial potential short-circuited and either side of the cornea incubated in Conway's solution, the mean intracellular concentrations (in mmol/kg wet weight) were 8.0 for Na, 18.4 for Cl and 117.3 for K. These values are in good agreement with ion activities previously obtained by Reuss et al. (Am. J. Physiol. 244:C336-C347, 1983) under open-circuit conditions. From a comparison of the chemical concentrations and activities of Na and K a mean intracellular activity coefficient of 0.75 is calculated. For small ions no significant differences between nuclear and cytoplasmic concentration values were detectable. The Cl concentrations in the different epithelial layers were virtually identical and showed parallel changes at varying states of Cl secretion, suggesting that the epithelium represents a functional syncytium. For Na a concentration gradient between the outer and inner epithelial layer was observed, which can be accounted for by two different models of epithelial cooperation. The behavior of the intracellular Na and Cl concentrations after removal of Na, Cl or K from the outer or inner bathing medium provides support for a passive electrodiffusive Cl efflux across the apical membrane and a Na-coupled Cl uptake across the basolateral membrane. The results are inconclusive with regard to the exact mechanism of Cl uptake, indicating either a variable stoichiometry of the symporter or the presence of more than one transport system. Furthermore, a dependence of intracellular Cl on HCO3 and CO2 was observed. Extracellular measurements in corneal stroma demonstrated that ion concentrations in this space are in free equilibrium with the inner bath.