THE EFFECT OF ALDOSTERONE AND ADRENALECTOMY ON THE ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE OF RAT COLON AND ON THE TRANSPORT OF SODIUM, POTASSIUM, CHLORIDE AND BICARBONATE

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SUMMARY: The effect of adrenalectomy on the increase of the transmucosal potential difference (p.d.) of the colon of the rat induced by Na depletion, together with the action of aldosterone on the p.d. and on colonic Na+ and Cl− transport, and K+ and bicarbonate secretion have been investigated. Adrenalectomy increased the Na+ content in the stool, an effect reversed by treatment with aldosterone. When Na+-depleted rats were adrenalectomized and maintained on cortisone, the elevated p.d. fell to levels below those found in normal rats. Aldosterone given intravenously (i.v.) in physiological doses increased the p.d. in normal, adrenalectomized and Na+-depleted adrenalectomized rats after a latency period of 80–110 min., and the p.d. tended to rise further when injections were continued for several days. The p.d. gradient along the colon after treatment with aldosterone was similar to that of Na+-depleted rats, the highest p.d. being at the distal end of the descending colon. Cortisol intravenously increased the p.d. but the effect was small in comparison with that of aldosterone. Measurement of ionic fluxes in the descending colon of adrenalectomized rats showed that treatment with aldosterone produced an increase in Na+ and water absorption, and in K+ secretion, but had no effect on bicarbonate secretion. The effects of aldosterone on the transmucosal p.d. and ion transport were similar to those of Na+ depletion.

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