Purpose: To investigate how nitric oxide (NO) modulates short-circuit current (Isc) in isolated porcine ciliary processes.
Methods: Isc changes (Ussing-type chamber) induced either by the NO donors SNP or SIN-1, or by the cGMP analogue 8-pCPT-cGMP were assessed. The effect of inhibitors of guanylate cyclase (10 microM ODQ, 100 microM LY83583), protein kinase G (30 microM Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP, 3 microM KT 5823), protein kinase A (1 microM KT 5720), or protein kinase C (1 microM Go6983) on SNP- or 8-pCPT-cGMP-induced Isc changes were investigated. The effect of inhibitors of anion channel (100 microM niflumic acid, 1 mM DIDS, and 1 mM 9-AC), K+-channel (10 mM TEA, 10 mM BaCl2), Na+-channel blockers (1 mM amiloride), Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter inhibitor (0.5 mM bumetanide), or carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (1 mM acetazolamide) was studied. In Cl(-)- or HCO3(-)-free Krebs-Ringer solution, the effect of SNP- or 8-pCPT-cGMP-induced Isc changes was accessed.
Results: SNP, SIN-1, or 8-pCPT-cGMP increased Isc with a change in the potential difference that became more negative toward the nonpigmented epithelium (aqueous) side. The Isc increase induced by SNP or SIN-1, but not by 8-pCPT-cGMP, was prevented by ODQ and LY83583. SNP- and 8-pCPT-cGMP-induced Isc increases were prevented by Rp-8-pCPT-cGMP or KT5823 (but not by KT5720 or Go6983), or by niflumic acid, DIDS, 9-AC, or acetazolamide (but not by TEA, BaCl2, amiloride, or bumetanide). The effect of SNP and 8-pCPT-cGMP was abolished in Cl(-)- and reduced in HCO3(-)-free solutions.
Conclusions: NO activates a guanylate cyclase-cGMP-protein kinase G pathway that appears to stimulate stroma-to-aqueous anionic transport, possibly Cl-, in porcine ciliary epithelium.
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