文摘
Neuroepithelial cells (NECs) of the fish gill are respiratory chemoreceptors that detect changes in O2 and CO2/H+ and are homologous to type I cells of the mammalian carotid body. In zebrafish (Danio rerio), stimulation of NECs by hypoxia or hypercapnia initiates inhibition of K+ channels and subsequent membrane depolarisation. The goal of the present study was to further elucidate, in zebrafish NECs, the signalling pathways that underlie CO2/H+ sensing and generate intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) signals. Breathing frequency was elevated maximally in fish exposed to 5?% CO2 (~37.5?mmHg). Measurement of [Ca2+]i in isolated NECs using Fura-2 imaging indicated that [Ca2+]i increased in response to acidic hypercapnia (5?% CO2, pH?6.6) and isocapnic acidosis (normocapnia, pH?6.6), but not to isohydric hypercapnia (5?% CO2, pH?7.6). Measurement of intracellular pH (pHi) using BCECF demonstrated a rapid decrease in pHi in response to acidic and isohydric hypercapnia, while isocapnic acidosis produced a smaller change in pHi. Intracellular acidification was reduced by the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide, without affecting [Ca2+]i responses. Moreover, intracellular acidification using acetate (at constant extracellular pH) was without effect on [Ca2+]i. The acid-induced increase in [Ca2+]i persisted in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ and was unaffected by Ca2+ channel blockers (Cd2+, Ni2+ or nifedipine). The results of this study demonstrate that, unlike type I cells, extracellular H+ is critical to the hypercapnia-induced increase in [Ca2+]i in NECs. The increase in [Ca2+]i occurs independently of pHi and appears to originate primarily from Ca2+ derived from intracellular stores.