ANION-EXCHANGE PROTEINS AND REGULATION OF INTRACELLULAR PH IN CULTURED RAT ASTROCYTES AND NEURONS

WE used primary cultures of rat hippocampal tissue to the contribution of anion exchange (AE) to the regulation of intracellular DH in neuro nes and astrocytes. After induction of acidosis, neonatal rat astrocyt es were able to restore the intracellular pH in the absence of extrace llular bicarbonate. Neonatal neurones, however, were able to recover f rom acidosis only when bicarbonate was present in the extracellular me dium. This recovery was inhibited by inhibition of anion exchange and was independent of the presence of sodium ions. Antibodies against AE proteins reacted predominantly with neurones. These data suggest that neurones in particular are dependent on functional AE proteins for the maintenance of their intracellular pH.