Endogenous acetylcholine increases alveolar epithelial fluid transport via activation of alveolar epithelial Na,K-ATPase in mice

•Vagotomy resulted in reduced alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in mice.•Stimulation of peripheral end of vagus nerve inhibits vagotomy-induced AFC.•Effects of acetylcholine chloride on AFC in mice were explored.•Effects of acetylcholine chloride on Na+/K+ATPase in A549 alveolar epithelial cells were studied.•Vagus nerve participates in AFC by acetylcholine release, activating Na+/K+ATPase.

The contribution of endogenous acetylcholine to alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) and related molecular mechanisms were explored. AFC was measured in Balb/c mice after vagotomy and vagus nerve stimulation. Effects of acetylcholine chloride on AFC in Kunming mice and Na,K-ATPase function in A549 alveolar epithelial cells also were determined. AFC significantly decreased in mice with left cervical vagus nerve transection compared with controls (48.69 ± 2.57 vs. 66.88 ± 2.64, P ≤ 0.01), which was reversed by stimulation of the peripheral (60.81 ± 1.96, P ≤ 0.01). Compared with control, acetylcholine chloride dose-dependently increased AFC and elevated Na,K-ATPase activity, and these increases were blocked or reversed by atropine. These effects were accompanied by recruitment of Na,K-ATPase α1 to the cell membrane. Thus, vagus nerves participate in alveolar epithelial fluid transport by releasing endogenous acetylcholine in the infusion-induced pulmonary edema mouse model. Effects of endogenous acetylcholine on AFC are likely mediated by Na,K-ATPase function through activation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors on alveolar epithelia.