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Relationship between cell volume and cation content in thick ascending limb of rat kidney.

We examined the relationship between the cell volume and cation concentration ([Nai] and [Ki]) of isolated segments of rat medullary thick ascending limb (MAL) after incubation at 30 degrees C in various isotonic solutions. When the tubules were incubated in a normal NaCl solution containing 5 mmol/l K+, addition of 1 mmol/l of ouabain increased [Nai] and decreased [Ki] but did not change the total ([Nai] + [Ki]) concentration (about 90 mEq/l) or tubular volume. After incubation in various K+-free solutions, the tubules were almost fully K+-depleted; their volume per unit of length was similar in the three solutions, although the choline Cl-treated tubules had a very low sodium content compared to the NaCl- and Na2SO4-treated tubules (8 vs. 97 and 95 mEq/l respectively). Ouabain altered neither volume nor [Nai] of tubules incubated in choline Cl or Na2SO4 solution. Transfer of tubules from K+-free Na2SO4 or K+-free choline Cl solution into K+-free NaCl solution resulted in an increase in [Nai] (by 29 and 97 mEq/l respectively) without much increase in tubular volume. A marked swelling of the tubules was only observed when the K+-free NaCl solution contained also ouabain. Under this condition, [Nai] was comparable to the Na+ concentration of the incubation medium. After washing and incubation in a normal NaCl solution containing K+, the swollen tubules recovered their initial volume and restored Na+ and K+ concentration gradients across the cell membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Aldosterone and chloride conductance of amphibian skin.

Chloride influx (JCl) across the skin of toads maintained in dilute MgCl2 or Na2SO4 was determined after overnight incubation with(out) aldosterone, and related to mitochondria-rich cell (MRC) density of the preparations. Adaptation to MgCl2 vs. Na2SO4 was reflected by higher plasma aldosterone in the former group (17 vs. 3 nmol/l, respectively) while JCl was lower, even after overnight incubation (172 vs. 318 pmol cm-2 s-1). Incubation with aldosterone induced a more pronounced increase in JCl in the case of Na2SO4- vs. MgCl2-adapted toads (delta JCl: 242 vs. 25 pmol cm-2 s-1, respectively), which could be related to difference in MRC density between these two groups (1078 vs. 615 cells/mm2, respectively). On the other hand, the in vitro effect of aldosterone on Na+ transport (assessed by Isc) was equally pronounced in both groups, and thus independent of MRC density. These data suggest that aldosterone, rather than being involved in MRC proliferation, stimulates Cl- conductance by influencing the functional state of MRC.

Aldosterone↗

Salt effects on the denaturation of DNA. IV. A calorimetric study of the helix-coil conversion of the alternating copolymer poly[d(A-T)].

The enthalpy deltaH, entropy deltaS, and the temperature Tm of the conformational transition of poly[d (A-T)] from the ordered to the randomly oriented state have been determined at pH 6.8 with the help of an adiabatic differential scanning calorimeter in Na2SO4 solutions of increasing ionic strength. Spectrophotometric denaturation experiments supplemented the calorimetric measurements. All thermodynamic parameters were found to vary strongly with salt concentration: both deltaH and Tm increase linearly with the logarithm of the mean molal activity alpha plus or minus of Na2SO4. However, whereas the dependence of Tm on salt activity remains linear over the entire salt concentration range employed deltaH decreases abruptly in the most concentrated Na2SO4 solutions. The entropy of melting changes with salt concentration in a pattern similar to that displayed by deltaH. The data on deltaH as well as data derived from the maximum slopes of the calorimetric heat denaturation curves were used to calculate the cooperative length Lh, the stacking free energy epsilon, and the cooperativity parameter sigma of poly[d(A-T)] as a function of ionic strength. Lh decreases with increasing salt concentration whereas sigma increases. Epsilon assumes more positive values with increasing salt molality. These changes then are in agreement with the generally held belief that an increase in salt concentration leads to an increase in the "loop" content of the copolymer.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

N-ethylmaleimide blocks the modulatory effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides on the brain substance P receptor.

The binding of [3H]physalaemin ([3H]PHY) to rat brain substance P receptors is modulated by cations and guanine nucleotides. [3H]PHY binding in the presence of either monovalent or divalent cations (125 mM Na2SO4 or 2.5 mM MnCl2) shows a KD of 5.9 and 5.5 nM and a Bmax of 44.4 and 63.9 fmol/mg protein respectively. In the presence of both, there is a 2-fold increase in the affinity (KD 2.8 nM) and a 25-80% increase in the Bmax (81.6 fmol/mg protein). Addition of 100 microM GTP or Gpp(NH)p in either 125 mM Na2SO4 or 2.5 mM MnCl2 or both decreases the Bmax by 25-55%. However, the receptor affinity for [3H]PHY is not significantly altered by guanine nucleotides. N-Ethylmaleimide (NEM) irreversibly inhibits the receptor binding with an IC50 of 1.0 mM, demonstrating that SH groups play a critical role in the interaction of the ligand with the receptor. If the SP receptors are protected with 1 microM PHY, NEM irreversibly inhibits the effect of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides. Analysis of [3H]PHY binding in 125 mM Na2SO4, 2.5 mM MnCl2 on membranes that were protected with 1 microM PHY and then preincubated with NEM demonstrates a variable decline in receptor number and a 2-fold decrease in the affinity (KD, from 2.8 to 6.9 nM). These observations indicate the existence of a second class of SH groups that are essential for the interaction of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides with the receptor. The blockade of the modulatory effects of divalent cations and guanine nucleotides by NEM treatment further suggests that brain SP receptors are coupled to a guanine nucleotide binding regulatory protein.

Animals↗

Absorption, serum levels and urinary excretion of inorganic sulfate after oral administration of sodium sulfate in the conscious rat.

The absorption of inorganic sulfate after ingestion was investigated in rats. After oral administration of Na235SO4, 35S radioactivity was measurable in plasma already after 15 min and its plasma concentration reached a peak after about 1.5--2 h. The 35S-radioactivity excreted in urine during 24 h after ingestion of Na235SO4 together with varying amounts of unlabelled Na2SO4 (0.25--5.0 mmol Na2SO4 per rat) indicated an almost complete absorption of inorganic sulfate from the gastrointestinal tract. Determination of the inorganic sulfate concentration in rat serum 2 h after oral administration of 5.0 mmol Na2SO4 revealed a three-fold increase in serum sulfate concentration. The data suggest a rapid and almost complete absorption of inorganic sulfate after oral administration in the rat. Its importance in relation to the sulfate availability for sulfate conjugation of drugs is discussed.

Administration, Oral↗

Antimicrobial effects of sanitizers against planktonic and sessile Listeria monocytogenes cells according to the growth phase.

This study was designed to investigate the individual or combined effects of sanitizers on survival of planktonic or sessile Listeria monocytogenes cells at different phase of growth. The sanitizers tested included: (i) acetic acid (pH 5.0), (ii) NaOH (pH 12.0), (iii) 10% Na2SO4, (iv) 10% Na2SO4 and acetic acid (pH 5.0), (v) 10% Na2SO4 and NaOH (pH 12.0), (vi) a quaternary ammonium (20 ppm) and (vii) glyceryl monolaurate (75 ppm). Results revealed a great efficacy of alkaline treatments on both sessile and planktonic cells with a slightly higher resistance of 6 h biofilms. Quaternary ammonium appeared very effective in killing more than 98% of cells, but a resistance of 7 days biofilm was observed. Other sanitizers did not succeed in inhibiting totally the pathogen but acted in a similar way on both sessile and planktonic cells. Renewing the medium or not do not seem to be the major cause of a resistance emergence.

Acetic Acid↗

Design and interfacial behavior of two series of gemini amphiphiles with different charge positions based on imidazole moiety.

Two series of gemini amphiphiles based on 2-heptadecylimidazole were designed. One is exo-BisImC17Cn (n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10), in which the positive charges are positioned on the outsides of the headgroups. The other is endo-BisImC17Cn (n = 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), whose positive charges are localized on the insides of the headgroups. The interfacial behavior at the air/water interface of these gemini amphiphiles was investigated in relation to the effect of the charge position and the spacer length. Monolayers of exo-BisImC17Cn show small differences in interfacial behavior when spread on water and aqueous Na2SO4 subphases. In contrast, significant distinctions were observed for molecules of endo-BisImC17Cn. The limiting areas of endo-BisImC17Cn monolayers on water are obviously larger than those on the aqueous Na2SO4 solution. While the limiting areas of the exo-BisImC17Cn monolayers increased monotonically with the spacer length, those of the endo-BisImC17C10 monolayer on Na2SO4 solution is obviously smaller than those of endo-BisImC17C6 and endo-BisImC17C8 monolayers, suggesting the wicket conformation of the alkyl chain in endo-BisImC17C10. On the other hand, both of the gemini amphiphiles could form complex monolayers with negatively charged TPPS at the air/water interface. The transferred complex multilayer films of the gemini amphiphiles/TPPS showed supramolecular chirality, although both of the gemini amphiphiles and TPPS are achiral. The exciton couplet was observed for the endo-BisImC17Cn/TPPS films, while no couplet was detected for the exo-BisImC17Cn/TPPS films. A reasonable comparison between the two series of geminis in relation to the effect of charge positions and the spacer lengths on the interfacial behavior and the supramolecular chirality was performed.

Journal Article↗

The effect of sulfate on serum ionized calcium.

Serum sulfate concentrations may reach five to ten times normal in renal failure patients dialyzed on a sorbent cartridge system, and these patients have elevated alkaline phosphatase levels suggesting an increased incidence of renal oseodystrophy. We studied the effect of adding sulfate on ionized calcium (Ca2+) in human serum in vitro and in rat serum in vivo. K2SO4 or Na2SO4:NaCl mixtures were added to aliquots of serum from normal subjects to reproduce the observed biologic range of sulfate concentrations up to 10 mmol. Serum Ca2+ concentration was found to decrease linearly as serum sulfate concentration increased, for each subject. The weighted mean slope estimates of the effect of sulfate on ionized calcium in two experiments were -.0197 and -.0181. Rats were infused through the inferior vena cava with 2 mL of either 200 mmol NaCl (N = 5) or 100 mmol Na2SO4 (N = 6), after ligation of the renal arteries and veins and withdrawal of 2 mL blood for baseline studies. The animals were killed by exsanguination from the aorta after a five-minute equilibration period. In rats administered NaCl, no difference in Ca2+ or sulfate concentration was found between pre- and postinfusion sera. In the Na2SO4 treated rats, however, a significant mean increase of 0.635 mmol (p less than .005) in serum sulfate concentration was associated with a significant mean decrease of -0.062 mmol (p less than .01) in serum Ca2+ concentration. We conclude that the acute in vitro and in vivo addition of sulfate results in a decrease in serum Ca2+ concentration. Thus, hypersulfatemia, which is present chronically in patients on sorbent dialysis systems, may contribute to elevated alkaline phosphatase levels in these patients.

Animals↗

Unfolding and refolding of Coprinus cinereus peroxidase at high pH, in urea, and at high temperature. Effect of organic and ionic additives on these processes.

The unfolding and refolding rates of the heme-and Ca2+ -containing Coprinus cinereus peroxidase (CIP) have been measured at pH 12.1, in 4 M urea, and at 61.2 degrees C. The change in peroxidase activity paralleled the change in the Soret band absorbance of the heme group. The unfolding rate constant (ku), was determined independently in thermolysin digestion and EDTA experiments at 59.4 degrees C. Both gave ku values of 1.5 ms-1, and also showed that the presence of 4 mM EDTA made CIP unfolding practically irreversible. Unfolding and refolding rates could therefore be determined under identical conditions of denaturation having either EDTA or Ca2+ in excess. The refolding rates at high pH and in 4 M urea were measured by adding Ca2+ to the unfolded CIP, whereas refolding at 61.2 degrees C was evaluated by comparing the unfolding carried out under reversible (excess of Ca2+) and irreversible conditions (excess EDTA). The activation energies for the unfolding at 61.2 degrees C are approximately delta G++(u) 100, T delta S++(u) 200, and delta H++(u) 300 kJ/mol. Five different additives, glycerol, EtOH, Na2SO4, guanidinium chloride (GdmCl), and NaCl, all at 100 mM, were used as probes to evaluate the mechanism of base, urea, and heat on unfolding and refolding. Salts destabilized CIP at high pH, primarily by enhancing the unfolding rate but also by decreasing the refolding rate. Glycerol had the reverse effects and thus stabilized CIP at high pH. The unfolding rate in urea was only slightly affected by the additives, with the exception of GdmCl which enhanced the unfolding rate. The refolding rate was decreased in urea by EtOH and GdmCl, in contrast to glycerol and Na2SO4 which increased the refolding rate. At high temperature the unfolding was affected only slightly by the additives, except for GdmCl, and to a lesser extent NaCl, which enhanced the unfolding rate. The refolding rates were greatly decreased by Na2SO4, EtOH, and GdmCl, whereas glycerol and Nacl enhanced the process. It appears that 100 mM NaCl functions as a catalyst for the temperature-induced process, enhancing both the unfolding and refolding rates. The results indicate that the mechanisms of CIP unfolding and refolding are similar in urea and at high temperature but different at high pH.

Coprinus↗

The effect of salts on the stability of beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution, as related to the water mobility.

The effect of salts (KI, KBr, NaCl, KCl, KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4) on the stability of beta-galactosidase in aqueous solution was studied from the aspect of changes in water mobility. At salt concentrations up to 200 mM, the inactivation rate of beta-galactosidase in all the salt solutions studied increased with increasing salt concentration. At higher concentrations, those salts which had little effect on the spin-lattice relaxation time, T1, of water (KI, KBr, and KCl) continued to increase the inactivation rate of beta-galactosidase with increasing concentration, while those salts which decreased the T1 of water (KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4) decreased the inactivation rate. It appeared that the decrease in water mobility caused by KF, phosphate, and Na2SO4 resulted in stabilization of beta-galactosidase. The results indicate that water mobility is an important factor in the denaturation rate of proteins.

Bromides↗

Activation of hepatic glycogen phosphorylase b in vivo by sodium sulphate in normal (Wistar) and phosphorylase b kinase-deficient (gsd/gsd) rats.

Sulphate ions have been known for some years to enhance the activity of hepatic glycogen phosphorylase b in vitro. Here we report that intravenous injections of 4.92 mmol of Na2SO4/kg body wt. to rats induced marked hepatic glycogenolysis in vivo, accompanied by polyuria, glycosuria and a mild hyperglycaemia. These effects were observed both in normal (Wistar) rats and in gsd/gsd rats that lacked hepatic phosphorylase kinase. In both rat strains the activity of glycogen phosphorylase in liver extracts was enhanced by pretreatment of the animals with Na2SO4, but in phosphorylase kinase-deficient livers the enhancement was solely in phosphorylase b activity, whereas both the a and b forms of the enzyme were activated in normal livers. Hepatic glycogenolysis was also induced by perfusing rat livers, both normal and gsd/gsd, with 25 mM-Na2SO4. Under these conditions both the rat strains showed only enhanced activities of glycogen phosphorylase b. This suggested that the increased activity of phosphorylase a in the extracts of normal livers after Na2SO4 administration in vivo was due to a hormonally mediated conversion of the b form into the a form. The activation of glycogen phosphorylase b was stable to dilution and appeared to be due to a long-lasting structural change in the enzyme or very tight binding of an activator.

Animals↗

Temperature and salts effects on the peptidase activities of the recombinant metallooligopeptidases neurolysin and thimet oligopeptidase.

We report the recombinant neurolysin and thimet oligopeptidase (TOP) hydrolytic activities towards internally quenched fluorescent peptides derived from the peptide Abz-GGFLRRXQ-EDDnp (Abz, ortho-aminobenzoicacid; EDDnp, N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) ethylenediamine), in which X was substituted by 11 different natural amino acids. Neurolysin hydrolyzed these peptides at R-R or at R-X bonds, and TOP hydrolyzed at R-R or L-R bonds, showing a preference to cleave at three or four amino acids from the C-terminal end. The kinetic parameters of hydrolysis and the variations of the cleavage sites were evaluated under different conditions of temperature and salt concentration. The relative amount of cleavage varied with the nature of the substitution at the X position as well as with temperature and NaCl concentration. TOP was activated by all assayed salts in the range 0.05-0.2 m for NaCl, KCl, NH4Cl and NaI, and 0.025-0.1 m for Na2SO4. Concentration higher than 0.2 N NH4Cl and NaI reduced TOP activity, while 0.5 N or higher concentration of NaCl, KCl and Na2SO4 increased TOP activity. Neurolysin was strongly activated by NaCl, KCl and Na2SO4, while NH4Cl and NaI have very modest effect. High positive values of enthalpy (DeltaH*) and entropy (DeltaS*) of activation were found together with an unusual temperature dependence upon the hydrolysis of the substrates. The effects of low temperature and high NaCl concentration on the hydrolytic activities of neurolysin and TOP do not seem to be a consequence of large secondary structure variation of the proteins, as indicated by the far-UV CD spectra. However, the modulation of the activities of the two oligopeptidases could be related to variations of conformation, in limited regions of the peptidases, enough to modify their activities.

Amino Acids↗

Stimulation of the herpes simplex virus type I protease by antichaeotrophic salts.

The herpes simplex virus type 1 protease is expressed as an 80,000-dalton polypeptide, encoded within the 635-amino acid open reading frame of the UL26 gene. The two known protein substrates for this enzyme are the protease itself and the capsid assembly protein ICP35 (Liu, F., and Roizman, B. (1991) J. Virol. 65, 5149-5156). In this report we describe the use of a rapid and quantitative assay for characterizing the protease. The assay uses a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the COOH-terminal cleavage site of ICP35 as the substrate (GST-56). The protease consists of N0, the NH2-terminal 247 amino acid catalytic domain of the UL26 gene product, also expressed as a GST fusion protein. Upon cleavage with N0, a single 25-mer peptide is released from GST-56, which is soluble in trichloroacetic acid. Using this assay, the protease displayed a pH optimum between 7 and 9 but most importantly had an absolute requirement for high concentrations of an antichaeotrophic agent. Strong salting out salts such as Na2SO4 and KPO4 (> or = 1 M) stimulated activity, whereas NaCl and KCl had no effect. The degree of stimulation by 1.25 M Na2SO4 and KPO4 were 100-150- and 200-300-fold, respectively. Using the fluorescent probe 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate, the protease was shown to bind the dye in the presence of 1.25 M Na2SO4 or KPO4, but not at low ionic strength or in the presence of 1.25 or 2.2 M NaCl. This binding was most likely at the protease active site because a high affinity cleavage site peptide, but not a control peptide, could displace the dye. In addition to cleaving GST-56, the herpes simplex virus type I protease also cleaved the purified 56-mer peptide. Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy showed the peptide to be primarily random coil under physiological conditions, suggesting that antichaeotrophic agents affect the conformation of the substrate as well as the protease.

Acetates↗

The sparing action of inorganic sulphate on sulphur amino acids in practical broiler diets: preliminary trials with young chicks.

1. In three trials marked responses to Na2SO4 were obtained, both in terms of growth rate and of food/gain ratio. In a fourth trial the chicks responded to graded additions of synthetic methionine but not to inorganic sulphate. 2. The response of the chicks to Na2SO4 depended on the amount of sulphur amino acids in the diets, being absent or difficult to demonstrate in severely deficient diets or in those adequately supplemented, respectively. 3. Sodium sulphate cannot replace more than about 0-05% supplementary methionine. 4. Usually the efficacy of Na2SO4 in improving performance appeared to range from 40% to 60% that of synthetic methionine.

Amino Acids, Sulfur↗

The sparing action of inorganic sulphage on sulphur amino acids in practical broiler diets: the capacity of sodium sulphate to replace some of the supplementary methionine in diets of chicks up to 5 weeks of age.

1. Graded responses, in terms of both weight gain and food/gain ratios, were obtained to increasing increments of Na2SO4 added to diets containing suboptimal amounts of sulphur amino acids. 2. In most cases the relative efficiency of Na2SO4 ranged from 25% to 55% of that of synthetic methionine, when the former replaced 0-04 to 0-05 percentage units of the latter. This efficiency tended to be higher during the 3 to 5 than the 1 to 3 weeks of age periods. 3. The addition of either methionine or Na2SO4 decreased relative food consumption, which was apparently increased by suboptimal contentrations of dietary sulphur (as a compensatory response).

Age Factors↗

The effect of ionic strength and specific anions on substrate binding and hydrolytic activities of Na,K-ATPase.

The physiological ligands for Na,K-ATPase (the Na,K-pump) are ions, and electrostatic forces, that could be revealed by their ionic strength dependence, are therefore expected to be important for their reaction with the enzyme. We found that the affinities for ADP3-, eosine2-, p-nitrophenylphosphate, and V(max) for Na,K-ATPase and K+-activated p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity, were all decreased by increasing salt concentration and by specific anions. Equilibrium binding of ADP was measured at 0-0.5 M of NaCl, Na2SO4, and NaNO3 and in 0.1 M Na-acetate, NaSCN, and NaClO4. The apparent affinity for ADP decreased up to 30 times. At equal ionic strength, I, the ranking of the salt effect was NaCl approximately Na2SO4 approximately Na-acetate < NaNO3 < NaSCN < NaCl04. We treated the influence of NaCl and Na2SO4 on K(diss) for E x ADP as a "pure" ionic strength effect. It is quantitatively simulated by a model where the binding site and ADP are point charges, and where their activity coefficients are related to I by the limiting law of Debye and Hückel. The estimated net charge at the binding site of the enzyme was about +1. Eosin binding followed the same model. The NO3- effect was compatible with competitive binding of NO3- and ADP in addition to the general I-effect. K(diss) for E x NO3 was approximately 32 mM. Analysis of V(max)/K(m) for Na,K-ATPase and K+-p-nitrophenylphosphatase activity shows that electrostatic forces are important for the binding of p-nitrophenylphosphate but not for the catalytic effect of ATP on the low affinity site. The net charge at the p-nitrophenylphosphate-binding site was also about +1. The results reported here indicate that the reversible interactions between ions and Na,K-ATPase can be grouped according to either simple Debye-Hückel behavior or to specific anion or cation interactions with the enzyme.

4-Nitrophenylphosphatase↗

Chloride and phosphate as impediments to silica urinary calculi in rats fed tetraethylorthosilicate.

Rats fed a dextrose-casein type of diet adequate for normal growth and containing 2% of tetraethylorthosilicate (TES) were used to study the effect of NaCl and Na2SO4 drinking waters, and dietary additions of chloride, sulfate and phosphate on formation of silica urinary calculi. In experiment 1, rats fed the basal-TES diet had a 53% incidence of silica urinary calculi. NaCl or Na2SO4 (0.07 N) drinking waters each increased (P less than 0.01) water intake and urine volume, whereas only NaCl reduced (P less than 0.05) the incidence of silica urinary calculi. The incidence of calculi in the rats treated with NaCl and Na2SO4 was 15 and 55%, respectively. The saline waters had similar effects on urine pH, silica, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, as well as blood plasma magnesium and calcium. Plasma phosphorus tended to be higher (P = 0.08) in the NaCl-treated rats. In experiment 2, 50% of rats fed the basal-TES diet developed silica urinary calculi. Addition of 0.2 eq/kg diet of chloride, sulfate or phosphate as sodium salts (phosphate was an equal molar mixture of mono- and dibasic sodium phosphates) resulted in a reduction in silica urinary calculi (P less than 0.05) by dietary chloride (15% incidence) and phosphate (5% incidence) but not by sulfate (35% incidence). Water intake and urine volumes did not differ, urine calcium was increased (P less than 0.05) by sulfate, and urine phosphorus was increased (P less than 0.05) by phosphate. Blood plasma concentrations of calcium and magnesium did not differ, but plasma phosphorus was higher for animals fed the additional phosphate (P less than 0.1) or chloride (P less than 0.05) in the 2% TES diet.

Administration, Oral↗

Localization of the effect of acetylcholine in regulating intestinal ion transport.

1. The location of the site involved in the secretory response of rat jejunum and colon to ACh was investigated by selectively damaging either the villi of the jejunum and the surface epithelium of the colon or the crypts. 2. The secretory response induced by ACh was measured both in terms of changes in electrical activity and chloride fluxes. 3. Exposure of the mucosa to 2 M-Na2SO4 for 30 min selectively damaged the jejunal villi and colonic surface epithelium but did not reduce the increased potential difference and current generated by ACh. 4. When resistance changes were taken into account the colonic response was markedly increased after Na2SO4 treatment although the jejunal response was unchanged. Under control conditions ACh reduced net Na absorption and stimulated Cl secretion by the colon. After exposure to Na2SO4 only the Cl secretory component of the ACh response remained, thus accounting for the enhanced effect. 5. Cycloheximide, administered I.V. at a dose of 12 mg/kg, damaged the crypts after 2 hr without affecting the villi of the jejunum or the surface epithelium of the colon. After cycloheximide treatment the increased potential difference, current and net Cl secretion induced by ACh were significantly reduced. 6. The crypts therefore appear to be the site primarily involved in the secretory response of rat jejunum and colon to ACh, although in the colon an inhibitory effect on the Na transport process located in the surface epithelium was observed.

Acetylcholine↗