Sodium and chloride transport across the rumen epithelium of cattle in vitro: effect of short-chain fatty acids and amiloride

Effect of sodium concentration and mucosal pH on apical uptake of acetate and butyrate, and barrier function of the isolated bovine ruminal epithelium

This study was conducted to investigate the role of Na+ on ruminal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) absorption and barrier function when isolated ruminal epithelium was exposed to high and low pH ex vivo. Nine Holstein steer calves (322 ± 50.9 kg of body weight) consuming 7.05 ± 1.5 kg dry matter of a total mixed ration were euthanized and ruminal tissue was collected from the caudal-dorsal blind sac. Tissues were mounted between 2 halves of Ussing chambers (3.14 cm2) and exposed to buffers that contained low (10 mM) or high (140 mM) Na+ with low (6.2) or high (7.4) mucosal pH. The same buffer solutions were used on the serosal side except that pH was maintained at 7.4. Buffers used to evaluate SCFA uptake contained bicarbonate to determine total uptake or excluded bicarbonate and included nitrate to determine noninhibitable uptake. Bicarbonate-dependent uptake was calculated as the difference between the total and noninhibitable uptake. Acetate (25 mM) and butyrate (25 mM) were spiked with 2-3H-acetate and 1-14C-butyrate, respectively, and were then added to the mucosal side, incubated for 1 min, and tissues were analyzed to evaluate rates of SCFA uptake. Tissue conductance (Gt) and the mucosal-to-serosal flux of 1-3H-mannitol were used to assess barrier function. There were no Na+ × pH interactions for butyrate or acetate uptake. Decreasing mucosal pH from 7.4 to 6.2 increased total acetate and butyrate uptake, and bicarbonate-dependent acetate uptake. Flux of 1-3H-mannitol was not affected by treatment. However, high Na+ concentration reduced Gt and prevented an increase in Gt from flux period 1 to flux period 2. The results of this study indicate that although providing more Na+ to the ruminal epithelium does not affect SCFA uptake or mannitol flux, it may help stabilize tissue integrity.

Dietary selection of metabolically distinct microorganisms drives hydrogen metabolism in ruminants

Ruminants are important for global food security but emit the greenhouse gas methane. Rumen microorganisms break down complex carbohydrates to produce volatile fatty acids and molecular hydrogen. This hydrogen is mainly converted into methane by archaea, but can also be used by hydrogenotrophic acetogenic and respiratory bacteria to produce useful metabolites. A better mechanistic understanding is needed on how dietary carbohydrates influence hydrogen metabolism and methanogenesis. We profiled the composition, metabolic pathways, and activities of rumen microbiota in 24 beef cattle adapted to either fiber-rich or starch-rich diets. The fiber-rich diet selected for fibrolytic bacteria and methanogens resulting in increased fiber utilization, while the starch-rich diet selected for amylolytic bacteria and lactate utilizers, allowing the maintenance of a healthy rumen and decreasing methane production (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the fiber-rich diet enriched for hydrogenotrophic methanogens and acetogens leading to increased electron-bifurcating [FeFe]-hydrogenases, methanogenic [NiFe]- and [Fe]-hydrogenases and acetyl-CoA synthase, with lower dissolved hydrogen (42%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the starch-rich diet enriched for respiratory hydrogenotrophs with greater hydrogen-producing group B [FeFe]-hydrogenases and respiratory group 1d [NiFe]-hydrogenases. Parallel in vitro experiments showed that the fiber-rich selected microbiome enhanced acetate and butyrate production while decreasing methane production (p < 0.05), suggesting that the enriched hydrogenotrophic acetogens converted some hydrogen that would otherwise be used by methanogenesis. These insights into hydrogen metabolism and methanogenesis improve understanding of energy harvesting strategies, healthy rumen maintenance, and methane mitigation in ruminants.

Butyrate Permeation across the Isolated Ovine Reticulum Epithelium

Simple Summary

Short-chain fatty acids are the main source of energy for ruminants. The effective uptake of these substrates from the forestomach is a prerequisite for the health and performance of these animals. Thus far, the mechanisms of uptake have been investigated almost exclusively in the epithelium of the largest forestomach section, the rumen. Previous research suggests that the reticulum is also involved in the uptake of short-chain fatty acids, but the mechanisms involved have not been studied and may differ from those known from the rumen epithelium due to the different milieu in this compartment. To investigate this, ovine reticulum epithelium was mounted in Ussing chambers, and the transport of radiolabeled butyrate (as a representative of short-chain fatty acids) across the tissue was measured with and without the addition of inhibitors of particular transport proteins. Our results show that butyrate can be taken up effectively across the reticulum epithelium via pathways that are energized by the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and may involve monocarboxylate transporters, sodium-proton exchangers, and anion channels. However, our results are not completely congruent to those obtained in the rumen epithelium. These modifications could assure the effective uptake of short-chain fatty acids from the reticulum lumen under the particular conditions (p. e. high pH) of this forestomach compartment.

Abstract

We hypothesized that, due to the high pH of this compartment, the reticulum epithelium displays particular features in the transport of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). Ovine reticulum epithelium was incubated in Ussing chambers using a bicarbonate-free buffer solution containing butyrate (20 mmol L⁻¹). p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid (pHMB), 5-(N-Ethyl-N-isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA), or ouabain were added to the buffer solution as inhibitors of monocarboxylate transporters, sodium-proton-exchangers, or the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, respectively. The short-circuit current (I_sc) and transepithelial conductance (G_t) were monitored continuously while the flux rates of ¹⁴C-labelled butyrate were measured in the mucosal-to-serosal (J_ms^but) or serosal-to-mucosal direction (J_sm^but). Under control conditions, the mean values of I_sc and G_t amounted to 2.54 ± 0.46 µEq cm⁻² h⁻¹ and 6.02 ± 3.3 mS cm⁻², respectively. J_ms^but was 2.1 ± 1.01 µmol cm⁻² h⁻¹ on average and about twice as high as J_sm^but. Incubation with ouabain reduced J_ms^but, while J_sm^but was not affected. The serosal addition of EIPA did not affect J_ms^but but reduced J_sm^but by about 10%. The addition of pHMB to the mucosal or serosal solution reduced J_ms^but but had no effect on J_sm^but. Mucosally applied pHMB provoked a transient increase in the I_sc. The serosal pHMB sharply reduced I_sc. Our results demonstrate that butyrate can be effectively transported across the reticulum epithelium. The mechanisms involved in this absorption differ from those known from the rumen epithelium.

Absorption of bicarbonate in sheep omasum

Transport of bicarbonate across the isolated epithelium of sheep omasum was studied in vitro in Ussing chambers in combination with the pH-Stat method. The transport of HCO₃^- occurred in both directions, but J_ms HCO₃^- was significant larger than J_sm. Reducing the activity of the apical Na/H exchanger by a low mucosal Na concentration caused a significant reduction of J_ms HCO₃^-. Mucosal amiloride or short chain fatty acids (25 mmol l^-1 SCFA) numerically decreased J_ms HCO₃^-, but their combination (amiloride + SCFA) caused a significant reduction, which was also observed after addition of the carboanhydrase inhibitor ethoxyzolamide. Concentrations of 5 or 15 mmol·l^-1 mucosal ammonia did not change transport rates. The obtained results indicate the importance of an undisturbed cytosolic pH for transcellular HCO₃^- transport, which is probably mediated by an anion exchanger in both the apical and basolateral membranes. Possible impairment of HCO₃^- transport appears to be an overlooked factor in the pathogenesis of displacement of the abomasum.

A look at the smelly side of physiology: transport of short chain fatty acids

Fermentative organs such as the caecum, the colon, and the rumen have evolved to produce and absorb energy rich short chain fatty acids (SCFA) from otherwise indigestible substrates. Classical models postulate diffusional uptake of the undissociated acid (HSCFA). However, in net terms, a major part of SCFA absorption occurs with uptake of Na⁺ and resembles classical, coupled electroneutral NaCl transport. Considerable evidence suggests that the anion transporting proteins expressed by epithelia of fermentative organs are poorly selective and that their main function may be to transport acetate^-, propionate^-, butyrate^- and HCO₃^- as the physiologically relevant anions. Apical uptake of SCFA thus involves non-saturable diffusion of the undissociated acid (HSCFA), SCFA^-/HCO₃^- exchange via DRA (SLC26A3) and/or SCFA^--H⁺ symport (MCT1, SLC16A1). All mechanisms lead to cytosolic acidification with stimulation of Na⁺/H⁺ exchange via NHE (SLC9A2/3). Basolaterally, Na⁺ leaves via the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase with recirculation of K⁺. Na⁺ efflux drives the transport of SCFA^- anions through volume-regulated anion channels, such as maxi-anion channels (possibly SLCO2A1), LRRC8, anoctamins, or uncoupled exchangers. When luminal buffering is inadequate, basolateral efflux will increasingly involve SCFA^-/ HCO₃^- exchange (AE1/2, SCL4A1/2), or efflux of SCFA^- with H⁺ (MCT1/4, SLC16A1/3). Furthermore, protons can be basolaterally removed by NHE1 (SCL9A1) or NBCe1 (SLC4A4). The purpose of these transport proteins is to maximize the amount of SCFA transported from the tightly buffered ingesta while minimizing acid transport through the epithelium. As known from the rumen for many decades, a disturbance of these processes is likely to cause severe colonic disease.

Bicarbonate-dependent transport of acetate and butyrate across the basolateral membrane of sheep rumen epithelium

AIM

This study aimed to assess the role of HCO₃⁻ in the transport of acetate and butyrate across the basolateral membrane of rumen epithelium and to identify transport proteins involved.

METHODS

The effects of basolateral variation in HCO₃⁻ concentrations on acetate and butyrate efflux out of the epithelium and the transepithelial flux of these short-chain fatty acids were tested in Ussing chamber experiments using (14)C-labelled substrates. HCO₃⁻-dependent transport mechanisms were characterized by adding specific inhibitors of candidate proteins to the serosal side.

RESULTS

Effluxes of acetate and butyrate out of the epithelium were higher to the serosal side than to the mucosal side. Acetate and butyrate effluxes to both sides of rumen epithelium consisted of HCO₃⁻-independent and -dependent parts. HCO₃⁻-dependent transport across the basolateral membrane was confirmed in studies of transepithelial fluxes. Mucosal to serosal fluxes of acetate and butyrate decreased with lowering serosal HCO₃⁻ concentrations. In the presence of 25 mm HCO₃⁻, transepithelial flux of acetate was inhibited effectively by p-hydroxymercuribenzoic acid or α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, while butyrate flux was unaffected by the blockers. Fluxes of both acetate and butyrate from the serosal to the mucosal side were diminished largely by the addition of NO₃⁻ to the serosal side, with this effect being more pronounced for acetate.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate the existence of a basolateral short-chain fatty acid/HCO₃⁻ exchanger, with monocarboxylate transporter 1 as a primary candidate for acetate transfer.

Epithelia of the ovine and bovine forestomach express basolateral maxi-anion channels permeable to the anions of short-chain fatty acids

It has long been established that the absorption of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) across epithelia stimulates sodium proton exchange. The apically released protons are not available as countercations for the basolateral efflux of SCFA anions and a suitable transport model is lacking. Patch clamp and microelectrode techniques were used to characterize an anion conductance expressed by cultured cells of the sheep and bovine rumen and the sheep omasum and to localize the conductance in the intact tissue. Cells were filled with a Na-gluconate solution and superfused with sodium salts of acetate, propionate, butyrate, or lactate. Reversal potential rose and whole cell current at +100 mV decreased with the size of the anion. Anion-induced currents could be blocked by diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), NPPB (200 μmol l(-1)), or pCMB (1 mmol l(-1)). In patches of bovine ruminal cells, single channels were observed with a conductance for chloride (327 ± 11 pS), acetate (115 ± 8 pS), propionate (102 ± 10 pS), butyrate (81 ± 2 pS), and gluconate (44 ± 3 pS). Channels expressed by sheep rumen and omasum were similar. Microelectrode experiments suggest basolateral localization. In conclusion, forestomach epithelia express basolateral maxi-anion channels with a permeability sequence of chloride > acetate > propionate > butyrate. SCFA absorption may resemble functionally coupled transport of NaCl, with the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase driving the basolateral efflux of the anion through a channel. Since protons are apically extruded, the model accurately predicts that influx of buffers with saliva is essential for the pH homeostasis of the ruminant forestomach.

Evidence for NHE3-mediated Na transport in sheep and bovine forestomach

Na absorption across the cornified, multilayered, and squamous rumen epithelium is mediated by electrogenic amiloride-insensitive transport and by electroneutral Na transport. High concentrations of amiloride (>100 μM) inhibit Na transport, indicating Na+/H+ exchange (NHE) activity. The underlying NHE isoform for transepithelial Na absorption was characterized by mucosal application of the specific inhibitor HOE642 for NHE1 and S3226 for NHE3 in Ussing chamber studies with isolated epithelia from bovine and sheep forestomach. S3226 (1 μM; NHE3 inhibitor) abolished electroneutral Na transport under control conditions and also the short-chain fatty acid-induced increase of Na transport via NHE. However, HOE642 (30 μM; NHE1 inhibitor) did not change Na transport rates. NHE3 was immunohistochemically localized in membranes of the upper layers toward the lumen. Expression of NHE1 and NHE3 has been previously demonstrated by RT-PCR, and earlier experiments with isolated rumen epithelial cells have shown the activity of both NHE1 and NHE3. Obviously, both isoforms are involved in the regulation of intracellular pH, pHi. However, transepithelial Na transport is only mediated by apical uptake via NHE3 in connection with extrusion of Na by the basolaterally located Na-K-ATPase. The missing involvement of NHE1 in transepithelial Na transport suggests that the proposed “job sharing” in epithelia between these two isoforms probably also applies to forestomach epithelia: NHE3 for transepithelial transport and NHE1 for, among others, pHi and volume regulation.

Expression and localization of monocarboxylate transporters and sodium/proton exchangers in bovine rumen epithelium

Monocarboxylate-H+ cotransporters, such as monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) SLC16A, have been suggested to mediate transruminal fluxes of short-chain fatty acids, ketone bodies, and lactate. Using an RT-PCR approach, we demonstrate expression of MCT1 (SLC16A1) and MCT2 (SLC16A7) mRNA in isolated bovine rumen epithelium. cDNA sequence from these PCR products combined with overlapping expressed sequence tag data allowed compilation of the complete open reading frames for MCT1 and MCT2. Immunohistochemical localization of MCT1 shows plasma membrane staining in cells of the stratum basale, with intense staining of the basal aspects of the cells. Immunostaining decreased in the cell layers toward the rumen lumen, with weak staining in the stratum spinsoum. Immunostaining in the stratum granulosum and stratum corneum was essentially negative. Since monocarboxylate transport will load the cytosol with acid, expression and location of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE) family members within the rumen epithelium were determined. RT-PCR demonstrates expression of multiple NHE family members, including NHE1, NHE2, NHE3, and NHE8. In contrast to MCT1, immunostaining showed that NHE1 was predominantly localized to the stratum granulosum, with a progressive decrease toward the stratum basale. NHE2 immunostaining was observed mainly at an intracellular location in the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, and stratum granulosum. Given the anatomic localization of MCT1, NHE1, and NHE2, the mechanism of transruminal short-chain fatty acid, ketone body, and lactate transfer is discussed in relation to a functional model of the rumen epithelium comprising an apical permeability barrier at the stratum granulosum, with a cell syncitium linking the stratum granulosum to the blood-facing stratum basale.

Effect of chloride on pH microclimate and electrogenic Na+ absorption across the rumen epithelium of goat and sheep

Active Na+ absorption across rumen epithelium comprises Na+/H+ exchange and a nonselective cation conductance (NSCC). Luminal chloride is able to stimulate Na+ absorption, which has been attributed to an interaction between Cl-/HCO3- and Na+/H+ exchangers. However, isolated rumen epithelial cells also express a Cl- conductance. We investigated whether Cl- has an additional effect on electrogenic Na+ absorption via NSCC. NSCC was estimated from short-circuit current (Isc) across epithelia of goat and sheep rumen in Ussing chambers. Epithelial surface pH (pHs) was measured with 5-N-hexadecanoyl-aminofluorescence. Membrane potentials were measured with microelelectrodes. Luminal, but not serosal, Cl- stimulated the Ca2+ and Mg2+ sensitive Isc. This effect was independent of the replacing anion (gluconate or acetate) and of the presence of bicarbonate. The mean pHs of rumen epithelium amounted to 7.47 +/- 0.03 in a low-Cl- solution. It was increased by 0.21 pH units when luminal Cl- was increased from 10 to 68 mM. Increasing mucosal pH from 7.5 to 8.0 also increased the Ca2+ and Mg2+ sensitive Isc and transepithelial conductance and reduced the fractional resistance of the apical membrane. Luminal Cl- depolarized the apical membrane of rumen epithelium. 5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoate reduced the divalent cation sensitive Isc, but only in low-Cl- solutions. The results show that luminal Cl- can increase the microclimate pH via apical Cl-/HCO3- or Cl-/OH- exchangers. Electrogenic Na+ absorption via NSCC increases with pH, explaining part of the Cl- effects on Na+ absorption. The data further show that the Cl- conductance of rumen epithelium must be located at the basolateral membrane.

Transfer of energy substrates across the ruminal epithelium: implications and limitations

The ruminal epithelium has an enormous capacity for the absorption of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This not only delivers metabolic energy to the animal but is also an essential regulatory mechanism that stabilizes the intraruminal milieu. The epithelium itself, however, is endangered by the influx of SCFAs because the intracellular pH (pHi) may drop to a lethal level. To prevent severe cytosolic acidosis, the ruminal epithelium is able to extrude (or buffer) protons by various mechanisms: (i) a Na+/H+ exchanger, (ii) a bicarbonate importing system and (iii) an H+/monocarboxylate cotransporter (MCT). Besides pHi regulation, the MCT also provides the animal with ketone bodies derived from the intraepithelial breakdown of SCFAs. Ketone bodies, in turn, can serve as an energy source for extrahepatic tissues. In addition to SCFA uptake, glucose absorption has recently been identified as a potential way of eliminating acidogenic substrates from the rumen. At least with respect to SCFAs, absorption rates can be elevated when adapting animals to energy-rich diets. Although they are very effective under physiological conditions, the absorptive and regulatory mechanisms of the ruminal epithelium also have their limits. An increased number of protons during the state of ruminal acidosis can be eliminated neither from the lumen nor the cytosol, thus worsening dysfermentation and finally leading to functional and morphological alterations of the epithelial lining.

Ruminal transport and metabolism of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in vitro: effect of SCFA chain length and pH

The unidirectional transport and metabolism of 14C-labeled acetate, propionate and butyrate across the isolated bovine rumen epithelium was measured in vitro by the Ussing chamber technique. There was a significant, but relatively small, net secretion of acetate and propionate, and a large and significant net absorption of butyrate. The results demonstrate that the mucosal-serosal (MS) pathway for short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) is different from the serosal-mucosal (SM) pathway, and that butyrate is treated differently from acetate and propionate by the epithelium. The results support that the main route for epithelial SCFA transport is transcellular. The correlation between SCFA lipophility and the flux rate was positive but weak at both pH 7.3 and 6.0. Decreasing pH increased all SCFA fluxes significantly, but not proportionally to the increase of protonized SCFA in the bathing solution. There was a significant and apparently non-competitive interaction between the transport of acetate, propionate and butyrate. It seems that mediated transport mechanisms must be involved in epithelial SCFA transport in the bovine rumen, but the data do not exclude that passive diffusion could account for a significant part of the flux. The metabolism of SCFA in the Ussing chamber system was considerable, and there was a clear preference for excretion of CO2 from this metabolism to the mucosal side, while side preference for non-CO2 metabolite excretion was not studied. Of the propionate and butyrate transported in the MS direction, 78 and 95% was metabolised, while only 37 and 38% was metabolised in the SM direction (acetate metabolism could not be measured). There was, however, no simple relation between the degree of metabolism and the transport rate or the transport asymmetry of the SCFA.

Isoform of Na+, K(+)-ATPase from rumen epithelium identified and quantified by immunochemical methods

Using biopsies of rumen epithelium papillae a net influx of [86Rb+] was measured corresponding to a high concentration of Na+, K(+)-pumps found in [3H]ouabain-binding studies (Kristensen et al. 1995). In the present study the Na+, K(+)-ATPase in papillae homogenates is compared with purified (Na+, K+)-ATPase from different sources, immunochemically characterized with respect to the isoform of the hydrolytic alpha subunit and the concentration of pumps substantiated by a novel immunochemical method. Na+, K(+)-ATPase purified from bovine kidney was shown to contain one homogeneous high-affinity population of [3H]ouabain-binding sites (Kd 1.37 nM). The ouabain-binding capacity was 0.82 nmol (mg protein)-1. Site-directed polyclonal antibodies raised to isoform-specific sequences of the three known alpha-subunit isoforms and monoclonal alpha 1-specific antibodies were used for isoform characterization on western blots of peptides separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All three isoforms were present in Na+, K(+)-ATPase prepared from bovine brain. The alpha isoform of bovine kidney Na+, K(+)-ATPase and of rumen epithelium homogenate appeared to be alpha 1 whereas alpha 2 and alpha 3 were undetectable. Using an alpha 1-specific antibody and 125I-labelled antimouse IgG the content of (Na+, K+)-ATPase in rumen epithelium was determined by comparison of the signal from known amount of bovine kidney Na+, K(+)-ATPase on western blots. By this method rumen epithelium was found to contain 2.6 nmol Na+, K(+)-ATPase (g wet wt)-1, i.e. a similarly high or even higher concentration than previously seen in ouabain-binding studies on biopsies.

SCFA transport in the forestomach of ruminants

Short-chain fatty acids are the main end-products of microbial metabolism in the forestomach of ruminants. SCFA produced by the microorganisms are rapidly absorbed across forestomach epithelia and can cover up to 80% of the energy requirement of the animal. Although there is a great concentration gradient for SCFA between the forestomach content and the blood favoring passive transport, (secondary) active transport mechanisms are likely involved in SCFA permeation across the epithelia. (Secondary) active SCFA transport seems to be mediated by an anionic exchange system. The system interacts with other anions like chloride and bicarbonate. Similar to the large intestine of various species, SCFA can stimulate sodium transport probably by activating a Na+/H+ exchange located in the apical membrane. However, in contrast to the large intestine, SCFA transport itself seems to be independent from sodium. Part of the absorbed SCFA does not reach the blood side in the original form because it is metabolized in the epithelial cell. Metabolism, in turn, influences SCFA transport.

Lactate transport across the bovine rumen epithelium in vitro

The in vitro transport of L-lactate across rumen epithelium was found to be a passive, mass-action regulated diffusion, and no saturable transport mechanisms were involved at concentrations from 2-20 mmol/L. During this increase in L-lactate concentrations the epithelial resistance and potential difference increased significantly, indicating an epithelial change towards a more tight epithelium. The net sodium transport was significantly reduced by 45% at 20 mmol/L lactate as compared to lactate free conditions.

Measurement of the total concentration of functional Na+, K(+)-pumps in rumen epithelium

Using the technique of vanadate-facilitated [3H]ouabain binding we have developed a simple and reliable assay for measuring the concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites in small fresh or frozen biopsies of rumen epithelium papillae. In bovine and ovine rumen epithelium obtained from the cranio-ventral rumen sac the concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites was 1.6-4.9 nmol g dry wt-1 (n = 32) and 3.7-5.2 nmol g dry wt-1 (n = 6), respectively. When incubated in oxygenated Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer fresh biopsies of rumen epithelium maintained a high K+ and low Na+ content for at least 6 h. Na+ loading of the biopsies induced about 20-fold increase of the Na+, K(+)-pump activity based on measurement of ouabain suppressible net [86Rb+] influx. The ouabain suppressible net influx of [86Rb+] measured in Na+ loaded biopsies showed a close correlation to the [3H]ouabain binding capacity (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and corresponded to 47 +/- 2% (n = 9) of the theoretical maximum flux rate. The ouabain suppressible net influx of K+ and [86Rb+] were linearly related (r = 0.73; P < 0.001). The net Na+ efflux was 1.21 times the net K+ influx. It is concluded that rumen epithelium has a large capacity for active Na+/K+ transport and that there is agreement between the concentration of [3H]ouabain binding sites in the epithelium and the ouabain suppressible rate of net [86Rb+] influx in Na+ loaded biopsies in spite of some uncertainty about the maximum turnover number of the Na+, K(+)-pump in rumen epithelium.