F. Saldias et al., MODULATION OF LUNG LIQUID CLEARANCE BY ISOPROTERENOL IN RAT LUNGS, American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 18(5), 1998, pp. 694-701
beta-Adrenergic agonists have been reported to increase lung Liquid cl
earance by stimulating active Na+ transport across the alveolar epithe
lium. We studied mechanisms by which beta-adrenergic isoproterenol (Is
o) increases lung Liquid clearance in isolated perfused fluid-filled r
at lungs. Iso perfused through the pulmonary circulation at concentrat
ions of 10(-4) to 10(-8) M increased lung Liquid clearance compared wi
th that of control lungs (P < 0.01). The increase in lung liquid clear
ance was inhibited by the beta-antagonist propranolol (10(-5) M), the
Na+-channel blocker amiloride (10(-4) Mi, and the antagonist of Na-K-A
TPase,ouabain (5 x 10(-4) M). Colchicine, which inhibits cell microtub
ular transport of ion-transporting proteins to the plasma membrane, bl
ocked the stimulatory effects of Iso on active Na+ transport, whereas
the isomer lumicolchicine, which does not affect cell microtubular tra
nsport, did not inhibit Na+ transport. In parallel with these changes,
the Na-K-ATPase alpha(1)-subunit protein abundance and activity incre
ased in alveolar type II cells stimulated by 10(-6) M Iso. Colchicine
blocked the stimulatory effect of Iso and the recruitment of Na-K-ATPa
se alpha(1)-protein to the basolateral membrane of alveolar type II ce
lls. Accordingly, Iso increased active Na+ transport and lung liquid c
learance by stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and probably by u
pregulation of apical Na+ channels and basolateral Na-K-ATPase mechani
sms. Recruitment from intracellular pools and microtubular transport o
f Na+ pumps to the plasma membrane participate in beta-adrenergic stim
ulation of lung liquid clearance in rat lungs.