Cellular mechanisms of ion transport associated with osmotic gradients in rat small intestine

Lateral intercellular space volume as a determinant of CFTR-mediated anion secretion across small intestinal mucosa

Studies of full-thickness, small intestinal preparations have shown that maximal anion secretion [indexed by short-circuit current (I(sc))] during intracellular cAMP (cAMP(i)) stimulation is transient and followed by a decline toward baseline. Declining I(sc) is preceded by decreases in transepithelial conductance (G(t)), which in the small intestine reflects the lateral intercellular space (LIS) volume of the paracellular pathway. We hypothesized that decreases in LIS volume limit the magnitude and duration of cAMP(i)-stimulated anion secretion. Experimental manipulations to increase the patency of the LIS (assessed by G(t) and electron microscopy) were investigated for an effect on the magnitude of cAMP(i)-stimulated anion secretion (assessed by the I(sc) and isotopic fluxes) across murine small intestine. In control studies, changes of G(t) after cAMP(i) stimulation were associated with a morphological "collapse" of the LIS, which did not occur in intestine of CFTR-null mice. Removal of the outer intestinal musculature, exposure to a serosal hypertonic solution, or increased serosal hydrostatic pressure minimized reductions in G(t) and increased the cAMP(i)-stimulated I(sc) response. Increased I(sc) primarily resulted from increased Cl(-) secretion that was largely bumetanide sensitive. However, bumetanide-insensitive I(sc) was also increased, and similar increases occurred in the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC1)-null intestine, indicating that activities of non-NKCC1 anion uptake proteins are also affected by LIS volume. Thus LIS patency is an important determinant of the magnitude and duration of CFTR-mediated anion secretion in murine small intestine. Decreases in LIS volume may limit the pool of available anions to basolateral transporters involved in transepithelial secretion.

Water handling in Caco-2 cells: effects of acidification of the medium

Caco-2 cells were cultured on permeable supports. At confluence the minute-by-minute net water movement (Jw) was automatically recorded. Simultaneously, unidirectional [14C]mannitol, 22Na+, and/or 36Cl- fluxes and transepithelial resistances were measured. The water and mannitol permeabilities went progressively down between 9 and 16 days after seeding and then stabilized. In this last condition the hydrostatic permeability coefficient (Phydr) was 2.67 +/- 0.31 cm s-1 while the osmotic permeability coefficient (Posm) was 0.0017 +/- 0.0004 cm s-1. Phydr but not Posm was dependent on the temperature and on the presence of Na+ in the medium. A net secretory Jw was observed 16 days after seeding, in the absence of any osmotic, hydrostatic or chemical gradient. This secretory Jw was associated with net Cl- (1.43 +/- 0.43 muequiv h-1 cm-2) and Na+ (1.05 +/- 0.35 muequiv h-1 cm-2) secretions. Amiloride reduced, in open-circuit conditions, both Na+ and Cl- apical to basal fluxes, thus enhancing the net Na+ and Cl- exit. Acidification of the medium (pH 6.2) reversibly increased water and mannitol permeabilities in 10-day-old cultures. In 16-day-old cultures the same shift in medium pH did not change mannitol permeability, while stimulating water secretion. These results, obtained in the absence of supracellular structures (villae, crypts) and subepithelial components (muscular, vascular and conjunctive tissues) indicate that paracellular and transport-associated water pathways are sensitive to changes in the pH of the medium in Caco-2 cell layers.

Water handling in the rat jejunum: effects of acidification of the medium

The minute-by-minute net water movement (Jw) in the rat jejunum was studied in relation to the diffusive water (Pw) and mannitol (Ps) permeabilities with the following results. (a) Jw was a linear function of the applied hydrostatic and osmotic transepithelial gradients (hydrostatic permeability coefficient, Phydr = 0.052 +/- 0.011 cm s-1; osmotic permeability coefficient, Posm = 0.0069 +/- 0.0014 cm s-1. (b) A fraction of this absorptive Jw (transport-associated Jw, Jwt = 0.086 +/- 0.024 microliter min-1 cm-2) was independent of the presence of any osmotic, hydrostatic or chemical gradient. (c) In the absence of Na+, Jwt was not significantly different from zero and there was an increase in Phydr but no change in Posm. (d) In the presence of a hydrostatic gradient (10 cm H2O, mucosal side), acidification of the medium (95% CO2 bubbling, pH 6.2) simultaneously and reversibly increased Jw and decreased Pw. (e) When an osmotic gradient was present (40 mM polyethyleneglycol on the serosal side) a net increase in Jw was observed. CO2 bubbling in these conditions reversibly reduced Jw while increasing Ps. (f) These effects were not observed when the serosal or mucosal pH was reduced in the presence of a nonpermeant buffer (HEPES/TRIS; MES/TRIS). If we accept that Ps is a good marker of paracellular movements and that Pw mainly reflects transcellular water movements, we may conclude that acidification of the medium, in the presence of bicarbonate, modifies both paracellular and transcellular routes. The experimental evidence indicates that an increase in proton concentration opens the paracellular pathway and probably has a blocking effect on a transcellular route.

Additive effects of ileal secretagogues in the rat

Although clinical diarrhea is often caused by more than one enteropathogen, it is not known whether secretagogues have additive effects on secretion. This question was examined in anesthetized, ventilated rats by exposing the ileum to secretory agents with different mechanisms of action. Four hours after inoculation of ileal loops with either cholera toxin or saline, transport was measured during perfusion with Ringer's solution, with Ringer's solution containing Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin or mannitol, or with Ringer's solution containing both heat-stable enterotoxin and mannitol. We found that heat-stable enterotoxin caused similar decrements in water absorption in loops exposed to Ringer's solution, hypertonic mannitol, cholera toxin, and cholera toxin plus mannitol. By contrast, the decrement in water transport caused by hypertonic mannitol was inversely related to the level of ongoing water transport. In addition, the electrolyte transport changes caused by each enterotoxin were preserved despite the presence of other secretory agents. These data suggest that the transport effects of secretagogues with different mechanisms of action are additive in the ileum. However, the absolute decrements in water absorption may be independent of (heat-stable enterotoxin and cholera toxin) or dependent on (hypertonic mannitol) the ongoing level of water transport.

The effect of aniline derivatives on absorption of fluid, glucose and sodium in isolated duodenal segments from rats

Paracetamol (5-15 mmol X l-1), phenacetin (1-3 mmol X l-1) and acetanilide (5-20 mmol X l-1) enhanced fluid, glucose and sodium absorption of isolated duodenal segments from rats. In a high concentration paracetamol (30 mmol X l-1) and acetanilide (25 mmol X l-1) inhibited these parameters. The coupling coefficient of 2:1 in sodium-glucose cotransport was not changed under the influence of the aniline derivatives. Phlorizin (10(-5) mol X l-1) completely abolished the stimulatory effect of these drugs. Also in presence of 3-O-methylglucose instead of glucose in the perfusion medium a paracetamol dependent increase in fluid absorption was seen, whereas the absorption of mannitol was unchanged. The results suggest, that the increase in sodium and fluid absorption caused by aniline derivatives is due to the stimulation of active glucose transport. A cytotoxic effect may explain the decrease of absorption at high concentrations of these substances.

Passive water flows driven across the isolated rabbit ileum by osmotic, hydrostatic and electrical gradients

Water flows generated by osmotic and hydrostatic pressure and electrical currents were measured in sheets of isolated rabbit ileum at 20 degrees C. Flows across the mucosal and serosal surfaces were monitored continuously by simultaneous measurement of tissue volume change (with an optical lever) and net water flows across one surface of the tissue (with a capacitance transducer). Osmotic gradients were imposed across the mucosal and serosal surfaces of the tissue separately, using probe molecules of various sizes from ethanediol (68 Da) to dextrans (161 000 Da). Flows across each surface were elicited with very short delay. The magnitudes of the flows were proportional to the osmotic gradient and related to the size of the probe molecule. Osmotic flow across the mucosal surface was associated with streaming potentials which were due to electro-osmotic water flow. The mucosal surface is a heteroporous barrier with narrow (0.7 nm radius, Lp (hydraulic conductivity) = (7.6 +/- 1.6) X 10(-9) cm s-1 cmH2O-1) cation-selective channels in parallel with wide neutral pores (ca. 6.5 nm radius, Lp = (2.3 +/- 0.2) X 10(-7) cm s-1 cmH2O-1) which admit large pressure-driven backflows from the submucosa to the lumen. There is additional evidence for a further set of narrow electroneutral pores less than 0.4 nm radius with Lp less than 7 X 10(-9) cm s-1 cmH2O-1. The serosal surface has neutral pores of uniform radius (ca. 6.5 nm), Lp = (7.6 +/- 1.6) X 10(-8) cm s-1 cmH2O-1. Hypertonic serosal solutions (100 mM-sucrose) cause osmotic transfer of fluid from isotonic mucosal solutions into the submucosa, expand it, and elevate the tissue pressure to 19.6 +/- 3.2 cmH2O (n = 4). Conversely, hypertonic mucosal solutions (100 mM-sucrose) draw fluid out of the submucosa in the presence of isotonic serosal solutions, collapse the submucosa, and lower the tissue pressure to -87.7 +/- 4.6 cmH2O (n = 5). Water flows coupled to cation movement could be generated across the mucosal surface in both directions by brief direct current pulses. The short latency of onset and cessation of flow (less than 2 s), absence of polarization potentials, and high electro-osmotic coefficients (range 50-520 mol water F-1), together with the presence of streaming potentials during osmotically generated water flows indicate electro-osmotic water flow through hydrated channels in the tight junctions and/or lateral intercellular spaces.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effect of sodium on transport of weak electrolytes across rat jejunum in vitro

The effects of ion substitution and inhibitors on the transport of two representative weak electrolytes, benzoic acid and amphetamine, across short-circuited rat jejunum in vitro have been studied. The spontaneous asymmetries in the transport of the weak electrolytes were not dependent on the presence of either bicarbonate or chloride in the incubation medium. Net transport of the weak electrolytes was abolished when choline was substituted for sodium in the fluid bathing the mucosal surface of the tissue, but weak electrolyte transport was independent of the presence of sodium on the serosal side. Weak electrolyte transport was inhibited by ouabain and by orthovanadate. The effect of ouabain was abolished when potassium was substituted for sodium in the serosal fluid, and the effect of orthovanadate was potentiated in this condition. It was shown that the ability of the intestinal epithelium to discriminate between the ionized and non-ionized forms of weak electrolytes was not altered when choline was substituted for sodium in the incubation medium, indicating that the effect of sodium was associated with the driving force for weak electrolyte transport. Weak electrolyte transport was not abolished by raising the serosal potassium concentration, suggesting that the transport process was directly related with the function of the sodium pump, rather than correlated with gradients of electrical or chemical potential established as a consequence of pump activity.