ROLE OF VACUOLAR ADENOSINE-TRIPHOSPHATASE IN THE REGULATION OF CYTOSOLIC PH IN HEPATOCYTES

The responses of the cytosolic pH of hepatocytes in suspension to agents affecting the activity of vacuolar adenosine triphosphatase (V-ATPase) and Na/H exchange have been studied. Changes of cytosolic pH were determined both with dual-wavelength excitation (500/440 nm) of the fluorescence of 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein and from the distribution of C-14-dimethyloxazolidinedione; both methods gave very similar results. Changes of vesicular pH were determined by comparing the fluorescence of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran and rhodamine B isothiocyanate-dextran taken up by endocytosis. Nitrate, which inhibits V-ATPase in isolated organelles, induced a concentration-dependent acidification of the cytosol and alkalinization of vesicles, with maximal effects at 25-37.5 mM in each case, indicating that V-ATPase contributes to removal of cytosolic protons. On continued exposure to nitrate, the acidification underwent an amiloride-inhibitable reversal. At the higher concentrations of NO3-, both cytosolic acidification and vesicular alkalinization were reduced or absent. Bafilomycin A(1) caused alkalinization of vesicular pH; cytosolic acidification was not observed, possibly because of other ionic exchanges. Recovery of cytosolic pH from an acid load (2 min exposure to 5% CO2) was sensitive to both 25 mM NO3- and to ouabain. The pH dependence of the nitrate effect was tested with media of different pH; the activity was negligible at cytosolic pH 6.2 and rose to a maximum at cytosolic pH 7.3. Treatment of hepatocytes with 0.5-1.0 mM ouabain resulted in an initial alkalinization (0.5-2 min duration) of the cytosol, followed by a spontaneous reversal and, on occasion, further acidification. The alkalinization was blocked by 25 mM NO3-, but not by 25 mM gluconate. The results suggest that the cytosolic alkalinization is caused by a stimulation of Hf uptake by V-ATPase activity. We conclude that V-ATPases make an important contribution to the regulation of the cytosolic pH of hepatocytes.