Inhibits NaCl Absorption Research Articles

Immune System Control of Intestinal Ion Transport

SummaryThe immune system takes part in the regulation of intestinal water and electrolyte transport through the release of inflammatory mediators that act both directly and via the enteric nervous system to inhibit NaCl absorption and stimulate electrogenic Cl– secretion. It is likely that immune system activation is a normal physiologic event. The intestinal tract is filled with antigens and, although the barrier function of the epithelium usually serves to prevent their transmigration into the lamina propria, it probable that, on occasion, antigen presentation does occur. Under these instances, the phagocytes may instantly respond by initiating an intestinal secretory response that washes these antigens away. Similarly, previous sensitization to dietary antigens may allow mast cell degranulation to initiate a cleansing secretory response. Certainly under pathological conditions such as infection with parasites, bacteria, and viruses, the immune-mediated intestinal secretory response can either wash away...

Pathogenesis of Shigella diarrhea. XVI. Selective targetting of Shiga toxin to villus cells of rabbit jejunum explains the effect of the toxin on intestinal electrolyte transport.

To examine the mechanism by which Shiga toxin alters intestinal water and electrolyte transport, ligated loops of rabbit jejunum were incubated in vivo with purified toxin and then studied in vivo by single pass perfusion and in vitro by the Ussing chamber voltage-clamp technique. Toxin exposure led to accumulation of water in the jejunal lumen, associated with decreased active basal NaCl absorption. Glucose- and alanine-stimulated Na absorption were also reduced, while toxin had no effect on either basal short-circuit current or the secretory response to theophylline. These observations suggest that Shiga toxin selectively inhibits NaCl absorption without significantly altering active anion secretion. To localize the cellular site of toxin action, populations of villus and crypt cells from rabbit jejunum were isolated and studied. Villus cells had a greater content of the glycolipid Shiga toxin receptor, Gb3, had more toxin binding sites than did crypt cells, and were much more sensitive than crypt cells to toxin-induced inhibition of protein synthesis. These experiments demonstrate that purified Shiga toxin inhibits jejunal fluid absorption without affecting active fluid secretion by a preferential effect on villus cells. The results suggest that this is due to the differential distribution of toxin receptors on villus compared to crypt cells.

Thiazides stimulate calcium absorption in urinary bladder of winter flounder

Thiazides inhibit voltage-independent NaCl absorption in the urinary bladder of the winter flounder presumably by blocking an electroneutral mucosal Na/Cl co-transporter. As thiazides stimulate calcium absorption in mammalian distal convoluted tubule while inhibiting NaCl absorption, we studied the effects of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on unidirectional 45Ca fluxes and intracellular electrical potential in short-circuited bladders to examine possible mechanisms of HCTZ effects on calcium transport. Basal secretory calcium flux was, on average, slightly larger than absorptive flux, reflecting small net calcium secretion. Mucosal addition of HCTZ (10 −4 M) stimulated absorptive calcium flux by 46% while the secretory flux was unaltered. Thus, HCTZ tended to induce net calcium absorption. Pre-treatment with serosal ouabain (10 −4 M) attenuated the HCTZ-induced increase in absorptive calcium flux. Moreover, HCTZ hyperpolarized the mucosal membrane potential by 18% as measured by conventional open-tip microelectrodes. These effects of HCTZ are consistent with the hypothesis that HCTZ indirectly stimulates Na/Ca exchange located at the serosal membrane. In conclusion, HCTZ in flounder urinary bladder, as in mammalian distal convoluted tubule, simultaneously inhibits NaCl absorption and stimulates calcium absorption. This study expands on the functional similarities between the flounder urinary bladder and the mammalian distal convoluted tubule.

Differing effects of cGMP and cAMP on ion transport across flounder intestine.

The intestinal epithelium of the winter flounder is highly cation selective and actively absorbs NaCl via a bumetanide-sensitive (Na + K + 2Cl) cotransport system; it also actively secretes K+. Combined addition of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and theophylline was previously shown to partially inhibit NaCl absorption and to increase passive Cl- permeability. Because theophylline increases cyclic GMP (cGMP) and cAMP concentrations, we compared the effects of the 8-Bromo analogues of these two nucleotides on ion transport. cGMP inhibits Cl- absorption, K+ secretion, and Cl- and K+ influx across the brush border as effectively as do furosemide and bumetanide. Even at maximal doses, cAMP is less effective than cGMP in inhibiting ion transport; however, unlike cGMP, it abolishes the cation selectivity of the epithelium by greatly increasing Cl- permeability. The effects of the two nucleotides are not additive with each other or with those of bumetanide, although cGMP or bumetanide can further inhibit transport in cAMP-treated tissues.