Basolateral Cl^- transport is stimulated by terbutaline in adult rat alveolar epithelial cells

Stimulation of adult rat alveolar epithelial cells with terbutaline was previously shown to activate Cl^- channels in the apical membrane. In this study, we show that terbutaline stimulates net transepithelial (apical-to-basolateral) Cl^- absorption from 0.19 ± 0.13 to 1.43 ± 0.31 μmol x cm^-2 x hr^-1. Terbutaline also increases net Cl^- efflux across the basolateral membrane under conditions where an outward [K⁺] gradient exists and the membrane voltage is clamped at zero mV. When the [K⁺] gradient is eliminated, the effect of terbutaline on net Cl^- efflux is inhibited to the extent that no significant Cl^- efflux can be detected across the basolateral membrane. RT-PCR experiments detected mRNA for three KCl cotransport isoforms (KCC1, KCC3 and KCC4) in monolayer cultures of alveolar epithelial cells. Western blot analysis using antibodies to the four cloned isoforms of KCl cotransporters revealed the presence of KCC1 and KCC4 isoforms in monolayer cultures of these cells. These results provide evidence suggesting a role for KCl cotransport in terbutaline-stimulated transepithelial Cl ^- absorption.