Secretagogues stimulate electrogenic HCO3- secretion in the ileum of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula: evidence for the role of a Na+/HCO3- cotransporter.
Fluid secretion is essential for intestinal function and, in eutherian mammals, is driven by electrogenic Cl(-) transport, which is dependent upon a bumetanide-sensitive, basolateral Na(+)/K(+)/2 Cl(-) cotransporter, NKCC1. However, ileal secretion in the brushtail possum, a marsupial, involves a fundamentally different process, since NKCC1 expression is low in this tissue and the secretagogue-induced short circuit current (I(sc)) is insensitive to bumetanide. In view of these differences we have investigated the basis of the secretory response of the possum ileum. In the Ussing chamber the secretory I(sc) is independent of Cl(-) but dependent upon Na(+) and serosal HCO(3)(-)/CO(2), suggesting that secretagogues stimulate electrogenic HCO(3)(-) secretion. In agreement with this, serosal DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyano-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate; 1 mmol l(-1)) inhibited the secretory response. However, acetazolamide (1 mmol l(-1)) and serosal amiloride (1 mmol l(-1)) had little effect, indicating that HCO(3)(-) secretion is driven by HCO(3)(-) transport from the serosal solution into the cell, rather than hydration of CO(2) by carbonic anhydrase. Consistent with this the pancreatic variant of the electrogenic Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter (pNBC) is highly expressed in the ileal epithelium and is located in the basolateral membrane of the epithelial cells, predominantly in the mid region of the villi, with lower levels of expression in the crypts and no expression in the villous tips. We conclude that the secretory response of the possum ileum involves electrogenic HCO(3)(-) secretion driven by a basolateral pNBC and that the ileal HCO(3)(-) secretion is associated with a specialised function of the possum ileum, most probably related to hindgut fermentation.
Bartolo
Ray C
RC
Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
Harfoot
Natalie
N
Gill
Mike
M
McLeod
Bernie J
BJ
Butt
A Grant
AG
D000818:Animals; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007082:Ileum / Q000502:physiology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018181:Mice, Inbred CFTR / Q000235:genetics; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010179:Pancreas / Q000502:physiology; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters / Q000235:genetics; D064506:Solute Carrier Family 12, Member 2; D048330:Trichosurus / Q000502:physiology*
D001639:Bicarbonates; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C578878:Slc12a2 protein, mouse; D027982:Sodium-Bicarbonate Symporters; D028021:Sodium-Potassium-Chloride Symporters; D064506:Solute Carrier Family 12, Member 2; D012964:Sodium