Modulation of chloride secretion in the rat colon by intracellular bicarbonate

Effects of acid-base variables and the role of carbonic anhydrase on oxalate secretion by the mouse intestine in vitro

Hyperoxaluria is a major risk factor for calcium oxalate kidney stones and the intestine is recognized as an important extra-renal pathway for eliminating oxalate. The membrane-bound chloride/bicarbonate (Cl(-)/) exchangers are involved in the transcellular movement of oxalate, but little is understood about how they might be regulated. , CO2, and pH are established modulators of intestinal NaCl cotransport, involving Na(+)/H(+) and Cl(-)/ exchange, but their influence on oxalate transport is unknown. Measuring (14)C-oxalate and (36)Cl fluxes across isolated, short-circuited segments of the mouse distal ileum and distal colon we examined the role of these acid-base variables and carbonic anhydrase (CA) in oxalate and Cl(-) transport. In standard buffer both segments performed net oxalate secretion (and Cl(-) absorption), but only the colon, and the secretory pathway were responsive to and CO2. Ethoxzolamide abolished net oxalate secretion by the distal colon, and when used in tandem with an impermeant CA inhibitor, signaled an intracellular CA isozyme was required for secretion. There was a clear dependence on as their removal eliminated secretion, while at 42 mmol/L was also decreased and eradicated. Independent of pH, raising Pco2 from 28 to 64 mmHg acutely stimulated net oxalate secretion 41%. In summary, oxalate secretion by the distal colon was dependent on , CA and specifically modulated by CO2, whereas the ileum was remarkably unresponsive. These findings highlight the distinct segmental heterogeneity along the intestine, providing new insights into the oxalate transport mechanism and how it might be regulated.

Amendments to the theory underlying Ussing chamber data of chloride ion secretion after bacterial enterotoxin exposure

Bacterial enterotoxins may cause life-threatening diarrhoeal fluid loss in part because they stimulate enterocytes to secrete fluid into the small intestine as well as preventing normal fluid uptake. Abnormal chloride ion secretion is believed to provide the osmotic driving force for the inappropriate fluid movement. Evidence for enhanced chloride secretion consists of isotopic flux measurements in Ussing chambers, the standard apparatus for permeation studies. Flux from the lumen of the intestine is assumed to be determined solely by absorptive processes and flux towards the lumen solely by secretory processes. Bacterial enterotoxin increased flux towards the lumen is taken as an evidence of enhanced secretion. Examination of the flux equation solutions shows that the existing theoretical treatment of the Ussing chamber consists of the super-imposition of two contradictory unidirectional models. In contrast, the present analysis shows that a measured 'unidirectional' flux contains information both about absorptive and secretory processes, regardless of which flux is measured. Reciprocity is predicted for the fluxes, as decreases in the absorptive processes will cause increases in apparent secretory flux. Data from the literature show that mucosal-to-serosal chloride ion flux in rabbit ileum after exposure to secretagogues correlates inversely and highly significantly (r=0.74, n=17, p<0.001) with increases in serosal-to-mucosal chloride ion flux. As a category of evidence, flux data do not provide conclusive evidence of enhanced chloride secretion after exposure to enterotoxins, since an apparently enhanced serosal-to-mucosal flux would also be noted after inhibition of the mucosal-to-serosal flux. As interruption of absorptive processes can be misinterpreted as enhanced secretion in the Ussing chamber, this is a serious deficiency in the evidence for direct enterotoxin enhancement of the intestinal chloride ion channel as a basis for diarrhoeal disease.

Effect of secretagogues and pH on intestinal transport in guanylin-deficient mice

The small and large intestine secrete guanylin, a peptide homologous to heat stable enterotoxin (STa) elaborated by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Guanylin's role in intestinal electrolyte transport was investigated in guanylin-deficient knockout mice and heterozygous littermate controls. Segments of mid-jejunum, distal ileum, and proximal and distal colon were studied in Ussing chambers in HCO3- Ringer under short circuit conditions. We found that (1) under basal conditions, all segments in control and knockout mice absorb Na+, and the knockout mouse proximal colon secretes Cl-; (2) all segments except the jejunum of knockout mice respond by increasing absorption in response to reductions in pH from 7.6 to 7.1; (3) all segments exhibit decreased absorption in response to 1 mM cAMP; (4) the jejunum and ileum of knockout and control mice, and the proximal colon of control mice (but not knockout mice) respond to the mucosal addition of 50 nM STa with decreases in absorption; and (5) mucosal guanylin caused similar decreases in proximal colon absorption in control and guanylin-deficient mice. These findings suggest that guanylin deficiency causes basal Cl- secretion and reduced responsiveness to STa in mouse proximal colon. The effectiveness of guanylin in this segment suggests a difference in the intestinal secretory actions of STa and guanylin.

Acid-base effects on intestinal Cl- absorption and vesicular trafficking

In rat ileum and colon, apical membrane Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchange and net Cl(-) absorption are stimulated by increases in Pco(2) or [HCO(3)(-)]. Because changes in Pco(2) stimulate colonic Na(+) absorption, in part, by modulating vesicular trafficking of the Na(+)/H(+) exchanger type 3 isoform to and from the apical membrane, we examined whether changes in Pco(2) affect net Cl(-) absorption by modulating vesicular trafficking of the Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger anion exchanger (AE)1. Cl(-) transport across rat distal ileum and colon was measured in the Ussing chamber, and apical membrane protein biotinylation of these segments and Western blots of recovered proteins were performed. In colonic epithelial apical membranes, AE1 protein content was greater at Pco(2) 70 mmHg than at Pco(2) 21 mmHg but was not affected by pH changes in the absence of CO(2). AE1 was internalized when Pco(2) was reduced and exocytosed when Pco(2) was increased, and both mucosal wortmannin and methazolamide inhibited exocytosis. Wortmannin also inhibited the increase in colonic Cl(-) absorption caused by an increase in Pco(2). Increases in Pco(2) stimulated ileal Cl(-) absorption, but wortmannin was without effect. Ileal epithelial apical membrane AE1 content was not affected by Pco(2). We conclude that CO(2) modulation of colonic, but not ileal, Cl(-) absorption involves effects on vesicular trafficking of AE1.

Effect of E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin on colonic transport in guanylyl cyclase C receptor-deficient mice

We studied the functional importance of the colonic guanylyl cyclase C (GCC) receptor in GCC receptor-deficient mice. Mice were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium, and colon segments were studied in Ussing chambers in HCO3- Ringer under short-circuit conditions. Receptor-deficient mouse proximal colon exhibited similar net Na+ absorption, lower net Cl- absorption, and a negative residual ion flux (J(R)), indicating net HCO3- absorption compared with that in normal mice. In normal mouse proximal colon, mucosal addition of 50 nM Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) increased the serosal-to-mucosal flux of Cl- (J(s-->m)(Cl)) and decreased net Cl- flux (J(net)(Cl)) accompanied by increases in short-circuit current (I(sc)), potential difference (PD), and tissue conductance (G). Serosal STa had no effect. In distal colon neither mucosal nor serosal STa affected ion transport. In receptor-deficient mice, neither mucosal nor serosal 500 nM STa affected electrolyte transport in proximal or distal colon. In these mice, 1 mM 8-bromo-cGMP produced changes in proximal colon J(s-->m)(Cl) and J(net)(Cl), I(sc), PD, G, and J(R) similar to mucosal STa addition in normal mice. We conclude that the GCC receptor is necessary in the mouse proximal colon for a secretory response to mucosal STa.

Effects of short chain fatty acids on colonic Na+ absorption and enzyme activity

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) stimulate colonic Na+ absorption and inhibit cAMP and cGMP-mediated Cl- secretion. It is uncertain whether SCFA have equivalent effects on absorption and whether SCFA inhibition of Cl- secretion involves effects on mucosal enzymes. Unidirectional Na+ fluxes were measured across stripped colonic segments in the Ussing chamber. Enzyme activity was measured in cell fractions of scraped colonic mucosa. Mucosal 50 mM acetate, propionate, butyrate and poorly metabolized isobutyrate stimulated proximal colon Na+ absorption equally (300%). Neither 2-bromo-octanoate, an inhibitor of beta-oxidation, nor carbonic anhydrase inhibition affected this stimulation. All SCFA except acetate stimulated distal colon Na+ absorption 200%. Only one SCFA affected proximal colon cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) (18% inhibition by 50 mM butyrate). All SCFA at 50 mM stimulated distal colon cAMP PDE (24-43%) and decreased forskolin-stimulated mucosal cAMP content. None of the SCFA affected forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase in distal colon or ST(a)-stimulated guanylyl cyclase in proximal colon. Na+-K+-ATPase in distal colon was inhibited 23-51% by the SCFA at 50 mM. We conclude that all SCFA (except acetate in distal colon) stimulate colonic Na+ absorption equally, and the mechanism does not involve mucosal SCFA metabolism or carbonic anhydrase. SCFA inhibition of cAMP-mediated secretion may involve SCFA stimulation of PDE and inhibition of Na+-K+-ATPase.

Acid-base effects on electrolyte transport in CA II-deficient mouse colon

To determine the role of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in colonic electrolyte transport, we studied Car-2(0) mice, mutants deficient in cytosolic CA II. Ion fluxes were measured under short-circuit conditions in an Ussing chamber. CA was analyzed by assay and Western blots. In Car-2(0) mouse colonic mucosa, total CA activity was reduced 80% and cytosolic CA I and membrane-bound CA IV activities were not increased. Western blots confirmed the absence of CA II in Car-2(0) mice. Normal mouse distal colon exhibited net Na(+) and Cl(-) absorption, a serosa-positive PD, and was specifically sensitive to pH. Decrease in pH stimulated active Na(+) and Cl(-) absorption whether it was caused by increasing solution PCO(2), reducing HCO(-)(3) concentration, or reducing pH in CO(2)/HCO(-)(3)-free HEPES-Ringer solution. Membrane-permeant methazolamide, but not impermeant benzolamide, at 0.1 mM prevented the effects of pH. Car-2(0) mice exhibited similar basal transport rates and responses to pH and CA inhibitors. We conclude that basal and pH-stimulated colonic electrolyte absorption in mice requires CA I. CA II and IV may have accessory roles.

Effect of short-chain fatty acids on cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate-mediated colonic secretion

Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) prevent and reverse cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) but not Ca(2+)-mediated Cl- secretion. Mucosal [HCO3-]i has an opposite effect on these secretagogues. We examined whether SCFA and [HCO3-]i affect cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-induced secretion. Stripped segments of male Sprague-Dawley rat (Rattus norvegicus) proximal and distal colon, and cultured T84 cells were studied in Using chambers, and pHi and [HCO3-]i were determined. Mucosal [cGMP] was measured in proximal colon. In T84 cells, the increase in Cl- secretion (measured as Isc) induced by mucosal 0.25 microM Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) was prevented/reversed by bilateral 50 mM Na+ butyrate (71%/73%), acetate (58%/76%), propionate (68%/73%) and (poorly metabolized) isobutyrate (80%/79%). In proximal colon in HCO3- Ringer, basal Cl- secretion was not affected by [HCO3-]i or 25 mM butyrate. Mucosal 0.25 microM STa decreased net Na+ and Cl- absorption. Bilateral but not mucosal 25 mM SCFA reversed STa-induced effects on Na+ absorption and Cl- secretion. Bilateral and mucosal 25 mM SCFA but not [HCO3-]i prevented STa-induced Cl- secretion and increases in mucosal [cGMP]. STa did not produce Cl- secretion in distal colon. It was concluded that SCFA but not [HCO3-]i can prevent and reverse cGMP-induced colonic Cl- secretion.

Short-chain fatty acids have polarized effects on sodium transport and intracellular pH in rabbit proximal colon

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) stimulate colonic Na+ absorption, presumably by acidification of colonocytes and activation of apical Na+/H+ exchangers. It is unclear whether this effect depends on SCFA gradients across the colonic epithelium, and, if so, why. The aim of this study was to determine (1) whether SCFAs added unilaterally to either the apical or basolateral border of the cell have similar effects on intracellular pH (pHi); (2) whether SCFA gradients alter Na+ transport and; (3) what regulatory factors are involved in gradient-induced Na+ transport.

METHODS

pHi was measured in intact epithelial rabbit proximal colon using the pH-sensitive indicator 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein, and Na+ transport was measured under short-circuit conditions.

RESULTS

Apical and basolateral SCFAs had equivalent effects on decreasing pHi, but the recovery toward baseline was more vigorous after apical SCFAs. Gradients of both propionate and lactate (50 mmol/L [mucosal], 0 mmol/L [serosal]) stimulated electroneutral Na+ absorption, which was inhibited by bicarbonate, mucosal 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2, 2'-disulfonic acid, and Cl- removal. However, it was not blocked by amiloride. The differential response to a series of pharmacological agents showed that gradient-stimulated transport is distinct from epinephrine-stimulated electroneutral Na+ absorption.

CONCLUSIONS

A physiological gradient of SCFAs across the colonic epithelium elicits polarized effects on both pHi and Na+ absorption that may be important determinants of colonic fluid transport.

Dual role of CFTR in cAMP-stimulated HCO3- secretion across murine duodenum

The role of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in cAMP-stimulated HCO3- secretion across the murine duodenum was investigated. Serosal-to-mucosal flux of HCO3- (Js-->m, in mu eq.cm-2.h-1) and short-circuit current (Isc; in mu eq.cm-2.h-1) were measured by the pH stat method in duodenum from CFTR knockout [CFTR(-)] and normal [CFTR(+)] mice. Under control conditions, forskolin increased Js-->m and Isc (+1.7 and +3.5, respectively) across the CFTR(+) but not CFTR(-) duodenum. Both the forskolin-stimulated delta Js-->m and delta Isc were abolished by the CFTR channel blocker 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoate, whereas inhibition of luminal Cl-/HCO3- exchange by luminal Cl- removal or DIDS reduced the Js-->m by approximately 18% without a consistent effect on the delta Isc. Methazolamide also reduced the Js-->m by 39% but did not affect the delta Isc. When carbonic anhydrase-dependent HCO3- secretion was isolated by using a CO2-gassed, HCO3(-)-free Ringer bath, forskolin stimulated the Js-->m and Isc (+0.7 and +2.0, respectively) across CFTR(+) but not CFTR(-) duodenum. Under these conditions, luminal Cl- substitution or DIDS abolished the Js-->m but not the delta Isc. It was concluded that cAMP-stimulated HCO3- secretion across the duodenum involves 1) electrogenic secretion via a CFTR HCO3- conductance and 2) electroneutral secretion via a CFTR-dependent Cl-/HCO3- exchange process that is closely associated with the carbonic anhydrase activity of the epithelium.

Nonionic diffusion of short-chain fatty acids across rat colon

Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) transport across the colon may occur by nonionic diffusion and/or via apical membrane SCFA-/HCO3- exchange. To examine the relative importance of these processes, stripped segments of rat (Ratus ratus) proximal and distal colon were studied in Ussing chambers, and the unidirectional fluxes of radiolabeled SCFA butyrate, propionate, or weakly metabolized isobutyrate were measured. In N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) or 1 or 5 mM HCO3- Ringer, decreases in mucosal pH stimulated mucosal-to-serosal flux (Jm-->s) of all SCFA, decreases in serosal pH stimulated serosal-to-mucosal flux (Js-->m), and bilateral pH decreases stimulated both fluxes equally. These effects were observed whether the SCFA was present on one or both sides of the tissue, in both proximal and distal colon, in the absence of luminal Na+, and in the presence of either luminal or serosal ouabain. Changes in intracellular pH or intracellular [HCO3-] did not account for the effects of extracellular pH. Luminal Cl- removal, to evaluate the role of apical membrane Cl-/SCFA- exchange, had no effect on Jm-->s but decreased Js-->m 32% at pH 6.5 and 22% at 7.2. Increasing SCFA concentration from 1 to 100 mM, at pH 6.4 or 7.4, caused a linear increase in Jm-->s. We conclude that SCFA are mainly transported across the rat colon by nonionic diffusion.

5-(N,N-Dimethyl)-amiloride to discriminate the Unidirectional electrolyte transports in rat small intestine and proximal colon in vivo

The effect of dimethyl-amiloride (DMA), a selective Na+/H+ exchange blocker, was studied on electrolyte net fluxes and unidirectional fluxes of Na and Cl at four levels of rat intestine in vivo in basal conditions. DMA was applied intraluminally at concentrations of 10(-4) and 10(-3) M in the model of ligated loops prepared from duodenum, proximal jejunum, distal ileum and ascending colon in fasted Sprague Dawley rats. Two iso-osmotic test solutions were used: (1) hypo-ionic: Na+ 80 mM and (2) iso-ionic: Na+ 148 mM, pH 8.2. 22Na was placed in the loop and 36Cl was given by intravenous route at the beginning of the experiment. Na+/H+ was calculated by two different means, one was based on pH variation following amiloride inhibition of Na influx, the other on the calculation of the passive Na transport. The quantitative evaluation shows that Na/H exchange largely contributes to the electroneutral absorption and luminal pH regulation. The exchanger activity decreases from duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon where it is completed by K/H exchange to assure low colon luminal pH.

Modulation of chloride secretion in the rat ileum by intracellular bicarbonate

Increasing intracellular bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3-]i) inhibits calcium-mediated Cl- secretion in rat distal colon and T84 cells. We investigated the effect of [HCO3-]i on Cl- secretion in rat ileum. Segments of intact ileum from Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in Ussing chambers and villus and crypt intracellular pH and [HCO3-]i were determined using BCECF. A range of crypt and villus [HCO3-]i from 0 to 31 mM was obtained by varying Ringer's composition. Basal serosal-to-mucosal Cl- flux (JsmCl) averaged 8.5 +/- 0.2 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 and was unaffected by changing [HCO3-]i or serosal bumetanide. Carbachol increased JsmCl by 3.9 +/- 0.5 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 at [HCO3-]i = 0 mM but only by 1.0 +/- 0.3 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 at high crypt and villus [HCO3-]i. Dibutyryl-cAMP increased JsmCl by 2.5 +/- 0.2 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 at all [HCO3-]i. Carbachol and db-cAMP showed mutual antagonism at low [HCO3-]i and near-additivity at high [HCO3-]i. We conclude that like rat colon and T84 cells, calcium-mediated but not cAMP-mediated Cl- secretion in the ileum is inhibited by increasing [HCO3-]i. Mutual antagonism between carbachol and db-cAMP at low [HCO3-]i was present in ileum and distal colon but not in T84 cells.

Dissociation of colonic apical Na/H exchange activity from bulk cytoplasmic pH

Intracellular acidification by stimuli rather than CO2 fails to stimulate colonic apical Na/H ex-change and Na absorption. We examined whether Na absorption could be stimulated in the absence of changes in cytoplasmic pH (pHi). Distal colon of male Sprague-Dawley rats was used for pHi measurements with 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein and for flux measurements in Ussing chambers. In 21 mM HCO3-Ringer, increasing PCO2 from 20 to 70 mmHg decreased pHi from 7.51 to 7.03 and increased net Na flux (JnetNa) from 4.2 +/- 0.4 to 6.8 +/- 0.6 mu eq.cm-2.h-1. Similar increases in JnetNa occurred in the absence of mucosal CI and in the presence of phalloidin to inhibit microfilaments or penzolamide to inhibit membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase. sohydric increases in Pco2 did not alter pHi but stimulated JnetNa from 5.1 +/- 0.6 to 7.2 +/- 0.8 mu eq.cm-2.h-1. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) decreased pHi from 7.45 to 7.35 but did not stimulate JnetNa. Butyrate (25 mM) decreased pHi from 7.15 to 7.02 with recovery to baseline within 6 min; however, JnetNa increased by 2.2 mu eq.cm-2.h-1 for 60 min. We conclude that apical Na/H exchange activity is unresponsive to changes in bulk pHi and is independent of Cl/HCO3 exchange, microfilaments, and membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase. The presence of an H-tight, CO2, and butyrate-permeable subapical domain is postulated.

Regulation of ion transport by histamine in human colon

Histamine, added to the basolateral side of voltage clamped human colon in vitro, induced a rapid onset, transient inward short circuit current which was concentration dependent over the range 0.01-3 mM. This response was largely due to electrogenic chloride section since it was virtually abolished by bumetanide or by chloride replacement in the bathing solutions. Responses were unaffected by amiloride or acetazolamide. Neither the histamine H2 receptor agonist dimaprit (1 mM) nor the histamine H3 receptor agonist S-(+)-alpha-methyl histamine (1 mM) altered short circuit current. Responses to histamine were significantly reduced by the histamine H1 receptor antagonist mepyramine (1-10 microM) but not altered by the histamine H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine (100 microM) or by the histamine H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide (1 microM). Short circuit current responses to histamine were not altered by tetrodotoxin (1 microM). Piroxicam (10 microM) and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (100 microM) were without effect when used individually but significantly reduced responses to histamine when used simultaneously. These results indicate that histamine stimulates chloride secretion across human colonic epithelium by a mechanism which is mediated exclusively via histamine H1 receptors. This action does not involve intrinsic nerves but appears to be dependent upon eicosanoid synthesis.

Propionate-initiated changes in intracellular pH in rabbit colonocytes

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Because regulation of intracellular pH (pHi) is critical to basic cell functions, most cells have evolved mechanisms to closely regulate intracellular acid-base balance. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the predominant luminal anion in the colon, acidify the cell interior in several cell systems, but their effect on their "natural target," the colonocytes, has not been examined thoroughly.

METHODS

We monitored the pHi response to a model SCFA, propionate, in isolated cells and epithelial sheets from rabbit proximal colon loaded with the pH-sensitive dye 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and -6)carboxyfluorescein.

RESULTS

SCFAs induced a characteristic pHi response curve in colonocytes: an immediate acidification and a recovery phase returning to baseline in 100-200 seconds. Acidification was altered by increasing concentrations of SCFAs, by increasing SCFA chain length, extracellular osmolarity, and intracellular pH, and finally, Na+ removal. The recovery phase was slowed by amiloride and 4-alpha-OH cinnamate, an inhibitor of proton-monocarboxylate cotransport.

CONCLUSIONS

Physiological concentrations of SCFAs have profound effects on intracellular pH. Simple diffusion of the SCFA may not explain the complexities of propionate-induced protonated acidification; the pH recovery phase may involve multiple processes including Na(+)-H+ exchange and H(+)-SCFA cotransport. Luminal constituents such as SCFAs may have significant effects on the intracellular pH and function of colonocytes.

HCO3- secretion by rat distal colon: effects of inhibitors and extracellular Na+

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The large intestine secretes HCO3- via a Cl-/HCO3- exchange mechanism located in the apical membrane of colonocytes. However, an additional transport system(s) must facilitate HCO3- (OH-) entry or H+ exit across the basolateral cell surface. The aim of this study was to determine that mechanism(s).

METHODS

A modified Ussing apparatus was used to measure net HCO3- secretion in segments of rat distal colon.

RESULTS

When added to the serosal solution, 10 mmol/L 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene (SITS), 1 mmol/L SITS and 0.1 mmol/L diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, inhibited HCO3- secretion by 88%, 51%, and 30%, respectively. However, the Na+/H+ exchange inhibitors, amiloride (1 mmol/L), dimethylamiloride (0.1 mmol/L), ethylisopropylamiloride (0.1 mmol/L), failed to affect HCO3- secretion. Acetazolamide (1 mmol/L) blocked HCO3- secretion by approximately 60% when in the serosal solution but had little effect when in the mucosal solution. Ion substitution studies showed that HCO3- secretion required Na+ in the serosal solution (K0.5 approximately 12 mmol/L). HCO3- secretion was unaffected by depolarizing the basolateral membrane potential with K(+)-rich medium.

CONCLUSIONS

These data are consistent with Na+ linked HCO3- transport across the colonocyte basolateral membrane, which appears to be electroneutral.

Famine, fiber, fatty acids, and failed colonic absorption: does fiber fermentation ameliorate diarrhea?

The salvage function of the colon for absorption of unabsorbed sodium and water from the jejunum and ileum depends upon the metabolic integrity of colonic epithelial cells maintained by luminal short-chain fatty acids. With the depletion of luminal short-chain fatty acids under conditions of starvation, metabolic compensation from vascular substrates is incomplete. Loss of luminal short-chain fatty acids diminishes cell membrane integrity and causes secretion by colonic epithelial cells, leading to starvation diarrhea. Because sodium absorption is dependent upon CO2 production from n-butyrate, no compensatory absorption occurs during starvation. Under conditions in which luminal short-chain fatty acids are depleted, dietary fiber is useful as a low osmolality food constituent and for renewal of short-chain fatty acid levels by bacterial fermentation. The "antisecretory" effect of dietary fiber depends on the degree of the preexisting depletion of short-chain fatty acids and the methodology used to assess absorptive function. Dietary fiber has not been found harmful in refeeding starvation victims for whom it is an essential food constituent.