Forskolin-induced clearance of the fluorescent dye sulforhodamine from rat parotid intralobular duct lumen: visualization of the secretory function under a confocal laser scanning microscope.

Cyclic AMP evokes fluid secretion with bicarbonate in exocrine ducts. Clearance of fluorescent dyes from rat parotid intralobular ducts by forskolin was visualized as a fluorescence change in the duct luminal space by optical sectioning under a confocal laser scanning microscope to clarify the secretory function in the ducts. When the isolated rat parotid intralobular duct segments were superfused with membrane-impermeable fluorescent dyes during the experimental period, fluorescent dyes were passively moved into the duct space. Forskolin and isobutylmethylxanthine decreased the fluorescence of anionic dye, sulforhodamine B, and neutral dye, dextran tetramethyl-rhodamine, in the duct space, suggesting that the forskolin-induced clearance of fluorescent dyes might be the result of fluid secretion in the ducts. Methazolamide inhibited a forskolin-induced sustained decrease in duct fluorescence and intracellular acidification. Low concentrations of external Cl?, DIDS, bumetanide and amiloride did not markedly inhibit a forskolin-induced decrease in duct fluorescence. These findings suggest that a major portion of the steady decrease in duct fluorescence by forskolin was related to intracellular HCO3? production, not the uptake mechanism of external Cl?. Glibenclamide, NPPB, DPC and DMA inhibited the forskolin-induced decrease. Forskolin evokes the clearance of fluorescent dyes from duct space possibly due to fluid secretion in rat parotid ducts, associated with secretion through CFTR and DPC-sensitive anion channels of carbonic anhydrase-dependent bicarbonate linked with the Na+/H+ exchange mechanism.