Proton Transport in Human Placental Microvillous Membrane Vesicles

The change of the acridine orange absorbance was used to monitor the formation and/or dissipation of a pH gradient in microvillous membrane vesicles (MVV) isolated from human term placenta. Under $Na^+$ efflux conditions, an acidification of the intravesicular space occured and it was completely inhibited by 0.1 mM amiloride. Under $K^+$ efflux conditions, an acidification of the intravesicular space occured and it was potentiated by valinomycin or FCCP. An inwardly directed chloride gradient also induced a minor intravesicular acidification, but it was not observed in voltage-clampled MVV. The initial rate of the dissipation of a pH gradient was accelerated by pulse injections of $Na^+$ in a saturable manner and $Li^+$ could replace $Na^+$. The kinetic parameter of $Na^+$ in placental $Na^+/H^+$ exchange was similar to that of renal $Na^+/H^+$ exchange. Amiloride was a inhibitor of directly coupled $Na^+/H^+$ exchange and its $IC_{50}$ in placental MVV was about 14-fold higher than that in renal brush border membrane. These results indicate that $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger exists in human placental MVV and that its kinetic characteristics is similar to that of renal $Na^+/H^+$ exchanger but its pharmacological characteristics is different. In placental MVV $K^+,\;H^+$, and, relatively minor chloride conductances are present. The magnitude of $Cl^-/OH^-$ exchange, even though it exists, seems to be smaller than that of $Na^+/H^+$ exchange.