GLIA 4:424-428 (1991) Localization and Stoichiometry of Electrogenic Sodium Bicarbonate Cotransport in Retinal Glial Cells

ABSTRACT An electrogenic Na+/HCO; cotransport system was identified and char-acterized in freshly dissociated salamander Muller (glial) cells. Under voltage-clamp, these cells generated an outward current when external HCO, concentration ([HCO;],) was raised. This current was Na+-dependent, C1--independent, and was blocked by the stilbenes 4,4’-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2’-disulfonate (DIDS) and 4,4’-dinitrostilbene-2,2’-disulfonate (DNDS), and by harmaline, demonstrating that the current was gener-ated by a Na+/HCO; cotransport system. Substantially larger currents were evoked when [HCO;], was raised at the Muller cell endfoot as compared to other cell regions, indicating that cotransporter sites are localized preferentially to the endfoot. The reversal potential of the current, which varied as a function of HCO, and Na+ transmembrane gradients, indicated that the cotransporter has a HCO;:Na+ stoichiometry of 3:l