Effect of hypoxia on Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport in cultured brain capillary endothelial cells of the rat.

The effect of hypoxia on Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport activity in cultured rat brain capillary endothelial cells (RBECs) was investigated by measuring 86Rb+ uptake as a tracer for K+. RBECs expressed both Na+, K(+)-ATPase and Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport activity (4.6 and 5.5 nmol/mg of protein/min, respectively). Hypoxia (24 h) decreased cellular ATP content by 43.5% and reduced Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity by 38.9%, whereas it significantly increased Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport activity by 49.1% in RBECs. To clarify further the mechanism responsible for these observations, the effect of oligomycin-induced ATP depletion on these ion transport systems was examined. Exposure of RBECs to oligomycin led to a time-dependent decrease of cellular ATP content (by approximately 65%) along with a complete inhibition of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and a coordinated increase of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport activity (up to 100% above control values). Oligomycin augmentation of Na(+)-K(+)-Cl- cotransport activity was not observed in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (a competitive inhibitor of glucose transport and glycolysis) or in the absence of glucose. These results strongly suggest that under hypoxic conditions when Na+, K(+)-ATPase activity is reduced, RBECs have the ability to increase K+ uptake through Na(+)-K(+)-Cl-cotransport.