Lecture 01 Introduction Flashcards
What is cell polarity?
cells have apical and basolateral membranes each with differential expression of proteins allowing net movement of ions across epithelium
What are the two pathways that ions are dependent on?
transcellular (across cells) and paracellular (between cells)
What are ‘leaky epithelium’?
epithelium that allows lots of ionic transport and ‘leak-back’
What are ‘tight epithelium’?
epithelium that allows very little ionic transport or ‘leak-back’
What is the transepithelial resistance (Rte) of leaky and tight epithelia?
leaky <200ohm.cm^2
tight >2000ohm.cm^2
Give examples of leaky epithelial cells
proximal tubule
gallbladder
small intestine
choroid plexus
Give examples of tight epithelial cells
distal tubule
stomach
frog skin
What is the importance of frog skin?
important model of sodium reabsorption
What determines tightness of epithelium?
cell-to-cell interactions - tight junctions
mediate ion transport between the epithelia
some proteins present that facilitate ion transport
Compare tight and leaky epithelia in terms of ‘tightness’
if the quantity of ions transported are the same in both tight and leaky epithelia, the leaky epithelia will have much smaller proximal resistance and larger gaps in the tight junctions allowing greater ion ‘leak-back’ compared to the tight epithelia
Compare the properties of leaky and tight epithelia
leaky
transepithelial potential ~0mV
flux large and isosmotic
high water permeability
tight
transepithelial potential ~50mV
flux small
low water permeability
Define: Transepithelial Potential
the sum of the individual membrane potentials
How is the Transepithelial Potentials measured?
place reference electrode one side of the cells (0mV) and the recording electrode on the other side
the difference between the two gives the Vte
Can you measure the transepithelial potential for leaky epithelia?
no leaky cells cannot sustain a positive or negative Vte due to ion movement back between cells
Give an example of how a negative Vte might be generated in tight epithelia?
potassium recycles across the basolateral membrane
sodium has net movement across the cell decreasing the number of cations on the apical side producing a negative Vte