(Na,K)-ATPase-mediated cation pumping in cultured rat hepatocytes. Rapid modulation by alanine and taurocholate transport and characterization of its relationship to intracellular sodium concentration.

(Na,K)-ATPase is thought to maintain the transmembrane electrochemical sodium gradient which powers secondary active sodium-coupled transport of a variety of solutes including amino acids and bile acids. However, little is known regarding the effect of sodium-coupled solute transport on intracellular sodium concentration ( [Na]ic) and on (Na,K)-ATPase-mediated cation pumping in the intact cell. In order to address this question, we have measured 22Na uptake rate, steady state 22Na content, and ouabain-suppressible 86Rb uptake rate in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes under a variety of conditions. Compared with control conditions (sodium uptake rate = 6.00 +/- 0.40 nmol X min-1 X mg-1; [Na]ic = 11.96 +/- 0.54 mM; cation pumping = 2.53 +/- 0.18 nmol X min-1 X mg-1), cation pumping was increased by taurocholate (less than or equal to 158%), alanine (less than or equal to 246%), monensin (less than or equal to 400%), and cold exposure (less than or equal to 525%), and this increase was accompanied by increases in Na uptake and [Na]ic. In contrast, preincubation in low sodium medium decreased all three variables. These changes in cation pumping were blocked in the absence of extracellular sodium and were not accompanied by changes in ouabain-suppressible ATP hydrolysis measured in cell homogenate. An overall plot of cation pumping versus [Na]ic yielded a sigmoid-shaped curve. Values for KNa (17.8 +/- 1.4 mM) and Vmax (8.98 +/- 0.62 nmol X min-1 X mg-1) for cation pumping were estimated assuming three sodium sites per pump unit. These findings indicate that: 1) uptake of alanine and taurocholate is associated with a rapid increase in (Na,K)-ATPase cation pumping; 2) this increase probably results from an increase in pumping per pump unit rather than an increase in the total number of pump units, and it appears to be mediated via an increase in sodium influx and [Na]ic; 3) [Na]ic under control conditions is close to the apparent KNa of cation pumping, implying that substrate availability may be the mechanism whereby sodium uptake is tightly linked to (Na,K)-ATPase cation pumping in intact hepatocytes.