Faculty Bibliography

The effects of acute respiratory alkalosis and acidosis on intestinal electrolyte transport were studied in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. During in situ intestinal perfusion, anesthetized animals were ventilated with 0, 3, or 8% CO2, creating states of alkalosis (pH 7.64 +/- 0.01), normocapnia (pH 7.45 +/- 0.01), or acidosis (pH 7.26 +/- 0.01), respectively. The plasma bicarbonate concentration decreased 2.0 mM during alkalosis and increased 2.1 mM during acidosis. The jejunum did not respond to the acid-base disturbances. In both the ileum and colon, alkalosis decreased the net absorption of water (-16%), sodium (-23%), and chloride (-42%) and the net secretion of bicarbonate (-33%), whereas acidosis had the opposite effect, i.e., the net absorption of water (41%), sodium (39%), and chloride (32%) increased as did net bicarbonate secretion (33%) (ileal values given). Changes in sodium chloride movement could be correlated with changes in systemic pH and CO2 tension (PCO2), and bicarbonate secretion paralleled changes in the plasma bicarbonate concentration. The acid-base disorders had no effect on ileal and colonic net potassium secretion and transmural potential difference. These studies suggest that systemic pH and/or PCO2 regulate sodium chloride absorption, and the plasma bicarbonate concentration regulates bicarbonate secretion

Chronic parenteral mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid treatment increases colonic sodium and water absorption and mucosal Na-K-ATPase activity. Cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, was utilized to compare the mechanisms of action of these corticosteroids. Rats were injected with 50 or 100 micrograms/100 g body wet cycloheximide every 12 h, 0.5 or 3 mg/100 g deoxycorticosterone (DOCA) daily, or 3 mg/100 g methylprednisolone (MP) daily, singly or in combination for 2 days. In water absorption, transmural potential difference, and the specific activity of Na-K-ATPase were measured. Cycloheximide alone did not alter colonic water, sodium, or chloride absorption or Na-K-ATPase activity but did increase transmural potential difference. DOCA-induced increases in colonic absorption and Na-K-ATPase were completely prevented by cycloheximide. Cycloheximide completely prevented the increase in Na-K-ATPase in MP-treated rats but only partially reduced the MP-induced increase in sodium and water absorption. These results suggest that this enzyme is not the primary site of glucocorticoid action. It remains to be determined whether an increase in Na-K-ATPase activity is a necessary part of the maximal colonic response to chronic glucocorticoid treatment

Mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid effects on colonic electrolyte absorption were compared by examining the alterations caused by spironolactone and amiloride in corticosteroid-treated rats. Animals were treated for 3 days with deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA; 0.5 mg . 100 g-1 . day-1), methylprednisolone (MP; 3 or 0.5 mg . 100 g-1 . day), and spironolactone (14 mg . 100 g-1 . day-1 im) singly or in combination. On day 4, rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and perfused in vivo with Ringer-HCO3 solution. Both doses of MP and DOCA increased net colonic sodium and water absorption and mucosal Na-K-ATPase activity. Concurrent spironolactone treatment completely prevented these effects in DOCA-treated rats but had no effect in MP-treated rats. Untreated, MP-treated, and DOCA-treated animals were perfused with a Ringer-HCO3 solution containing 1 mM amiloride. Amiloride reduced net colonic sodium and water absorption, transmural potential difference, and potassium secretion in all rats by approximately 55%. These effects were almost immediate and completely reversible. These findings in the rat suggest that 1) different receptors mediate the colonic effects of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids and 2) these corticosteroids do not differ in their relative effects on amiloride-sensitive and amiloride-resistant colonic sodium transport processes

The effect of lithium ingestion on intestinal electrolyte and water transport was studied in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. We fed animals a lithium-supplemented diet for 1, 2, 4, or 16 wk before in vivo perfusion of the jejunum and colon. Lithium feeding did not alter jejunal transport of water, electrolytes, or glucose, However, at 4 and 16 wk (16-wk data given) the colon increased net water (168%), sodium (160%), and chloride (140%) absorptions, and the transmural potential difference (396%) as compared with control animals. In addition, the colon absorbed both bicarbonate and potassium against an unfavorable electrochemical gradient. The increased colonic sodium absorption was not associated with an increase in mucosal Na+, K+-ATPase activity. Furthermore, in lithium-fed animals deoxycorticosterone acetate stimulated mucosal Na+, K+-ATPase activity, but it did not further increase net sodium absorption. Neither jejunal nor colonic electrolyte transport was affected 24 h after being gavage-fed lithium. These results suggest that chronic lithium ingestion has a unique mechanism of action as other means of chronically increasing sodium absorption are associated with increased mucosal Na+, K+-ATPase activity

Renal and cardiac effects of norepinephrine and dopamine were evaluated in swine aged 1 wk, 2 wk, and 6 mo. The swine were anesthetized with pentobarbital (20-30 mg/kg). Aortic pressure, right ventricular pressure and its first derivative, and heart rate were recorded, together with carotid and renal (RBF) arterial flows. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was determined by [14C]inulin clearance. After a control period, norepinephrine or dopamine was infused intravenously for 10-20 min before and then during another clearance period. After a second control period, the second catecholamine was infused. GFR increased in piglets given either catecholamine. Norepinephrine at equipressor doses (2.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 in piglets and 1.0 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 in mature swine) decreased RBF and increased renal resistance. Dopamine at equi-inotropic doses (10 micrograms.kg-1 min-1 in piglets and 20 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 in mature swine) increased RBF and decreased renal resistance only in mature swine. Infusions of dopamine at a low dose (5 micrograms.kg-1.min-1) also failed to increase RBF or decrease renal resistance in piglets. The results suggest that maturation of the mechanism of renal vasodilation by dopamine occurs later than that for vasoconstriction by norepinephrine