Sodium bicarbonate cotransport in cultured pigmented ciliary epithelial cells.

Uptake of 22Na+ was studied in cultured bovine pigmented ciliary epithelial cells (PE) in HCO3-containing media. Two components of Na+-uptake were stimulated by intracellular acidification (NH4+-prepulse): One was amiloride-sensitive, the other DIDS-sensitive. The amiloride-sensitive component of Na+-uptake probably represents Na+/H+-exchange, which has previously been characterized in PE. The second, DIDS-sensitive component stimulated by intracellular acidification, was Cl- and HCO3--dependent. We conclude that a stilbene-sensitive, Cl--dependent Na+-HCO3--cotransport is present in PE. This transport could play an important role in aqueous humor formation.