Active accumulation and exchange transport of chloride in astroglial cells in culture.

Chloride transport in primary cultures of astroglial cells from rat brain shows saturation kinetics, is inhibited by SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid), and exchanges with HCO-3. These properties are similar to those of the anion exchange system in erythrocytes. Estimated of intracellular C1- concentration([C1-]i) in the primary cultures give values in the range of 31 to 43 mM, which are 3- to 5-times greater than predicted from equilibration with an average measured membrane potential of -70 mV, suggesting that these cells also actively accumulate Cl-.