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. 1977 Dec;273(1):317–338. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp012096

The role of bicarbonate, chloride and sodium ions in the regulation of intracellular pH in snail neurones

R C Thomas
PMCID: PMC1353741  PMID: 23429

Abstract

1. Intracellular pH (pHi), Cl- and Na+ levels were recorded in snail neurones using ion-sensitive micro-electrodes, and the mechanism of the pHi recovery from internal acidification investigated.

2. Reducing the external HCO3- concentration greatly inhibited the rate of pHi recovery from HCl injection.

3. Reducing external Cl- did not inhibit pHi recovery, but reducing internal Cl-, by exposing the cell to sulphate Ringer, inhibited pHi recovery from CO2 application.

4. During pHi recovery from CO2 application the internal Cl- concentration decreased. The measured fall in internal Cl- concentration averaged about 25% of the calculated increase in internal HCO3-.

5. Removal of external Na inhibited the pHi recovery from either CO2 application or HCl injection.

6. During the pHi recovery from acidification there was an increase in the internal Na+ concentration ([Na+]i). The increase was larger than that occurring when the Na pump was inhibited by K-free Ringer.

7. The increase in [Na+]i that occurred during pHi recovery from an injection of HCl was about half of that produced by a similar injection of NaCl.

8. The inhibitory effects of Na-free Ringer and of the anion exchange inhibitor SITS on pHi recovery after HCl injection were not additive.

9. It is concluded that the pHi regulating system involves tightly linked Cl--HCO3- and Na+-H+ exchange, with Na entry down its concentration gradient probably providing the energy to drive the movement inwards of HCO3- and the movement outward of Cl- and H+ ions.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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