Bicarbonate/chloride (HCO/Cl) exchangers regulate intracellular pH in the alkaline range. Previously, it has been shown that mouse embryos at the two-cell stage exhibit this activity, but that the otherwise ubiquitous mechanisms for regulating intracellular pH in the acid-to-neutral range are undetectable. We have examined mouse embryos during preimplantation development (one-cell zygote through blastocyst) to determine whether HCO/Cl exchange activity exists at all stages, whether it is necessary for preimplantation development, and whether messenger RNAs from the known HCO/Cl exchanger genes are expressed. We have found that all stages of preimplantation embryo have detectable HCO/Cl exchange activity. In addition, inhibition of this activity with the stilbene anion exchange inhibitor DIDS (4,4`-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2`-disulfonic acid) disrupts intracellular pH homeostasis and markedly inhibits embryo development from the two-cell stage to blastocysts in culture under conditions of moderately high external pH. Finally, mRNA encoding two members of the band 3-related AE anion exchanger gene family are expressed in preimplantation embryos.

CiteULike

Complore

Connotea

Del.icio.us

Digg

Reddit

Technorati

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. C. Chan, Y. C. Ruan, Q. He, M. H. Chen, H. Chen, W. M. Xu, W. Y. Chen, C. Xie, X. H. Zhang, and Z. Zhou The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in reproductive health and disease J. Physiol., May 1, 2009; 587(10): 2187 - 2195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. FitzHarris, V. Siyanov, and J. M. Baltz Granulosa cells regulate oocyte intracellular pH against acidosis in preantral follicles by multiple mechanisms Development, December 1, 2007; 134(23): 4283 - 4295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. FitzHarris and J. M. Baltz Granulosa cells regulate intracellular pH of the murine growing oocyte via gap junctions: development of independent homeostasis during oocyte growth Development, February 15, 2006; 133(4): 591 - 599. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E.A. Harding, C.A. Gibb, M.H. Johnson, D.I. Cook, and M.L. Day Developmental Changes in the Management of Acid Loads During Preimplantation Mouse Development Biol Reprod, November 1, 2002; 67(5): 1419 - 1429. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Phillips, M. A. F. Petrunewich, J. L. Collins, and J. M. Baltz The Intracellular pH-regulatory HCO3-/Cl- Exchanger in the Mouse Oocyte Is Inactivated during First Meiotic Metaphase and Reactivated after Egg Activation via the MAP Kinase Pathway Mol. Biol. Cell, November 1, 2002; 13(11): 3800 - 3810. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ben-Chetrit, M. Antenos, A. Jurisicova, E. A. Pasyk, D. Chitayat, J.K. Foskett, and R. F. Casper Expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator during early human embryo development Mol. Hum. Reprod., August 1, 2002; 8(8): 758 - 764. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. E. Ludwig, J. M. Squirrell, A. C. Palmenberg, and B. D. Bavister Relationship Between Development, Metabolism, and Mitochondrial Organization in 2-Cell Hamster Embryos in the Presence of Low Levels of Phosphate Biol Reprod, December 1, 2001; 65(6): 1648 - 1654. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Steeves, M. Lane, B. D. Bavister, K. P. Phillips, and J. M. Baltz Differences in Intracellular pH Regulation by Na+/H+ Antiporter among Two-Cell Mouse Embryos Derived from Females of Different Strains Biol Reprod, July 1, 2001; 65(1): 14 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Chiappe de Cingolani, P. Morgan, C. Mundina-Weilenmann, J. Casey, J. Fujinaga, M. Camilion de Hurtado, and H. Cingolani Hyperactivity and altered mRNA isoform expression of the Cl-/HCO3- anion-exchanger in the hypertrophied myocardium Cardiovasc Res, July 1, 2001; 51(1): 71 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. P. Phillips, M.-C. Leveille, P. Claman, and J. M. Baltz Intracellular pH regulation in human preimplantation embryos Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2000; 15(4): 896 - 904. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Lane, E. A. Lyons, and B. D. Bavister Cryopreservation reduces the ability of hamster 2-cell embryos to regulate intracellular pH Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2000; 15(2): 389 - 394. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Lane, J. M. Baltz, and B. D. Bavister Bicarbonate/Chloride Exchange Regulates Intracellular pH of Embryos but Not Oocytes of the Hamster Biol Reprod, August 1, 1999; 61(2): 452 - 457. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Lane, J. M. Baltz, and B. D. Bavister Regulation of Intracellular pH in Hamster Preimplantation Embryos by theSodium Hydrogen (Na+/H+) Antiporter Biol Reprod, December 1, 1998; 59(6): 1483 - 1490. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Puceat, S. Roche, and G. Vassort Src Family Tyrosine Kinase Regulates Intracellular pH in Cardiomyocytes J. Cell Biol., June 29, 1998; 141(7): 1637 - 1646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Sun Expression of Cl-/HCO−3 exchanger in the basolateral membrane of mouse medullary thick ascending limb Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, February 1, 1998; 274(2): F358 - F364. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]