title: Aldosterone stimulates K secretion across mammalian colon independent of Na absorption.
abstract: K transport across guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) distal colon was measured in vitro using isotopically determined unidirectional fluxes. Aldosterone stimulated electrogenic Na absorption, as measured by amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current (Isc), and reduced net K absorption from +2.5 +/- 0.2 microEq/cm2 per hr to +0.8 +/- 0.3 microEq/cm2 per hr (mean +/- SEM). Amiloride addition to the mucosal solution did not enhance net K absorption, as expected if inhibiting active Na absorption would reduce active K secretion as in the distal nephron. The amiloride-insensitive Isc was -1.0 +/- 0.2 microEq/cm2 per hr (mean +/- SEM) and was inhibited by mucosal addition of Ba, a K channel blocker. Addition of bumetanide to the serosal solution also inhibited this negative Isc, and K transport returned to the control level of net absorption. Thus, the amiloride-insensitive, negative Isc is consistent with active K secretion stimulated by aldosterone. This stimulation of an active K secretory pathway by aldosterone occurred without altering the active K absorption pathway that also is present. These results indicate that the aldosterone-stimulated K secretory pathway operates independently of the amiloride-sensitive Na absorption pathway, which also is stimulated by aldosterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rechkemmer
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Halm
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000584:Amiloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002034:Bumetanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002034:Bumetanide; D000450:Aldosterone; D000584:Amiloride; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium