1. Conventional and ion-selective double-barrelled microelectrodes were used in an in vitro bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-choroid preparation to measure the changes in membrane voltage, resistance and intracellular K+ and Cl-activities produced by small, physiological changes in extracellular potassium ([K+]0).2. In the intact eye, light-induced changes in [K+]. occur in the extracellular (or subretinal) space that separates the neural retina and the RPE apical membrane. These [K+1 changes can be approximated in vitro by decreasing apical bath [K+]. from 5 to 2 mM.3. This in vitro change in [K+1 simultaneously decreased intracellular Cl-and K+ activities (a4 and ak) by 25 + 6 mM (n = 8) and 19 + 7 mM (n = 4) (mean + S.D.), respectively.In control Ringer solution (5 mm [K+]0) a', and a' were 65+10 mm (n = 28) and 65 + 8 mM (n = 6), respectively.
The [K+]t-induced decreases in a', and a' were both significantly inhibited, either by blocking the apical membrane K+ conductance with Ba2+ or the basolateral membrane Cl-conductance with DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyano-stilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid). 5. Transepithelial current pulses were used to determine the relative basolateral membrane Cl-conductance, T5s, was -0-6 (n = 3), and the relative apical membrane K+ conductance, TK, was -0'7 (n = 2).Step changes in basal bath [Kt]o were used to estimate the relative basolateral membrane K+ conductance, TBAS, was -0 34 (n = 3). 6. These data show that the apical membrane K+ conductance and the basolateral membrane Cl-conductance are electrically coupled. In vivo, this coupling could have significant functional importance by modulating the relative hydration of the subretinal space, regulating RPE cell volume, and subretinal space.In the posterior portion of the vertebrate eye the apical membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and the photoreceptors communicate across a small extracellular or subretinal space. The basolateral membrane faces a different extracellular environment which is produced by the choroidal blood supply. The flow of metabolites, ions and fluid between these extracellular spaces is mediated by a variety of apical and basolateral membrane transport