Diquafosol Elicits Increases in Net Cl– Transport through P2Y2 Receptor Stimulation in Rabbit Conjunctiva

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The purpose of the present study was to understand the mechanisms of action of diquafosol, a stable derivative of uridine 5'-triphosphate, on Cl(-) transport across the isolated rabbit conjunctiva. Rabbit conjunctivas were isolated and mounted in a modified Ussing chamber. Under short-circuit conditions, the effects were determined of mucosal (tear) side diquafosol application on the short-circuit current (Isc). Diquafosol rapidly and dose-dependently increased the Isc at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 968 microM when added to the mucosal side of the conjunctiva. In the absence of the serosal Cl(-), the Isc induced by 10 microM diquafosol was substantially reduced. On the contrary, in the absence of mucosal side Na(+), the diquafosol-induced increases in Isc were unchanged. Following 45-min preincubation, the P2Y(2) antagonist suramin inhibited the diquafosol-induced increases in the Isc whereas the P2Y(1) antagonist pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2'4'-disulfonic acid had no effect. These studies suggest that diquafosol stimulates net Cl(-) secretion from the serosal to the mucosal side via stimulation of P2Y(2) receptors in the rabbit conjunctiva.