Active NaCl absorption across split lamellae of posterior gills of the chinese crab Eriocheir sinensis: stimulation by eyestalk extract.

Split lamellae of the posterior gills of freshwater-adapted Chinese crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) were mounted in a modified Ussing-type chamber, and active and electrogenic absorption of Na(+) and Cl(-) were measured as positive (I(Na)) or negative (I(Cl)) short-circuit currents. Haemolymph-side addition of eyestalk extract stimulated I(Cl) by increasing both the transcellular Cl(-) conductance and the electromotive force for Cl(-) absorption. The effect was dose-dependent. Boiling the eyestalk extract did not change its effectiveness. The stimulating factor passed through dialysis tubing, indicating that it has a molecular mass of less than 2 kDa. R(p)cAMPS, a blocker of protein kinase A, reduced the stimulated I(Cl). Eyestalk extract stimulated I(Na) by increasing the transcellular Na(+) conductance at constant electromotive force. Amiloride-induced current-noise analysis revealed that stimulation of I(Na) was accompanied by an increase in the apparent number of open apical Na(+) channels at a slightly reduced single-channel current. In addition to the electrophysiological experiments, whole gills were perfused in the presence and in the absence of putative transport stimulators, and the specific activities of the V-ATPase and the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase were measured. Eyestalk extract, theophylline or dibutyryl-cyclic AMP stimulated the activity of the V-ATPase, whereas the activity of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase was unaffected. The simultaneous presence of R(p)cAMPS prevented the stimulation of V-ATPase by eyestalk extract or theophylline.