Analysis of neurotoxin and mitogen-stimulated sodium transport in human fibroblasts.

Human fibroblasts contain two classes of ouabain-insensitive Na+ channels. One channel is activated by alkaloid neurotoxins in combination with scorpion venom, a response which is similar to that of the voltage-sensitive Na+ ionophore of nerve. The other channel is activated by fetal calf serum, several other mitogenic agents, or low extracellular Ca2+. The nervelike Na+ channel is inhibited by tetrodotoxin but not by amiloride, while the mitogen-stimulated channel is blocked by amiloride but not by tetrodotoxin. The combined effects of neurotoxins and low Ca2+ on Na+ uptake are additive, consistent with the conclusion that these Na+ pathways are different and independent. Studies of Na+ efflux show the presence of two intracellular Na+ compartments. When Na+ flux through the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase pump is inhibited by ouabain, compartment A has a high rate constant of efflux (K1 = 0.30 mn-1) and constitutes 60% of the total cellular Na+. Compartment B, with a markedly smaller efflux constant (k2 = -0.07), contains the remaining 40% of cell Na+. Stimulation of flux through the nervelike channel has a pronounced effect on the rate constants and Na+ content of both compartments (K1 = 0.56, k2 = 0.10), but activation of the mitogenic channel has a pronounced effect only on the rate of efflux from compartment A and on the size of compartment B. A cytoplasmic-nuclear model for the Na+ compartments is presented.