Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Journal of Physiology logoLink to The Journal of Physiology
. 1978 Aug;281:15–27. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1978.sp012406

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

J G Browning, J Hardcastle, P T Hardcastle, J S Redfern
PMCID: PMC1282681  PMID: 702364

Abstract

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.

Full text

PDF
18

Images in this article

26-1Plate 1
on p.26-1
26-2Plate 2
on p.26-2
26-3Plate 3
on p.26-3

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Barry R. J., Smyth D. H., Wright E. M. Short-circuit current and solute transfer by rat jejunum. J Physiol. 1965 Nov;181(2):410–431. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1965.sp007770. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Browning J. G., Hardcastle J., Hardcastle P. T., Redfern J. S. Site of action of acetylcholine in regulating intestinal epithelial ion transport in the rat [proceedings]. J Physiol. 1977 Aug;270(1):78P–79P. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Browning J. G., Hardcastle J., Hardcastle P. T., Sanford P. A. Proceedings: The effect of acetylcholine on the electrical activity of colonic mucosa. J Physiol. 1976 Jul;259(1):58P–59P. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Browning J. G., Hardcastle J., Hardcastle P. T., Sanford P. A. The role of acetylcholine in the regulation of ion transport by rat colon mucosa. J Physiol. 1977 Nov;272(3):737–754. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1977.sp012070. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Edmonds C. J., Marriott J. Electrical potential and short circuit current of an in vitro preparation of rat colon mucosa. J Physiol. 1968 Feb;194(2):479–494. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008419. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Field M. Regulation of active ion transport in the small intestine. Ciba Found Symp. 1976;(42):109–127. doi: 10.1002/9780470720240.ch7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fordtran J. S., Rector F. C., Locklear T. W., Ewton M. F. Water and solute movement in the small intestine of patients with sprue. J Clin Invest. 1967 Mar;46(3):287–298. doi: 10.1172/JCI105531. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Frizzell R. A., Nellans H. N., Acheson L. S., Schultz S. G. Effect of cycloheximide on influx across the brush border of rabbit small intestine. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1973 Jan 2;291(1):302–307. doi: 10.1016/0005-2736(73)90422-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Grayer D. T., Serebro H. A., Iber F. L., Hendrix T. R. Effect of cycloheximide on unidirectional sodium fluxes in the jejunum after cholera exotoxin exposure. Gastroenterology. 1970 Jun;58(6):815–819. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hardcastle P. T., Eggenton J. The effect of acetylcholine on the electrical activity of intestinal epithelial cells. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1973 Feb 27;298(1):95–100. doi: 10.1016/0005-2736(73)90013-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Harper D. T., Jr, Yardley J. H., Hendrix T. R. Reversal of cholera exotoxin-induced jejunal secretion by cycloheximide. Johns Hopkins Med J. 1970 May;126(5):258–266. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hendrix T. R., Bayless T. M. Digestion: intestinal secretion. Annu Rev Physiol. 1970;32:139–164. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ph.32.030170.001035. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hubel K. A. Intestinal ion transport: effect of norepinephrine, pilocarpine, and atropine. Am J Physiol. 1976 Jul;231(1):252–257. doi: 10.1152/ajplegacy.1976.231.1.252. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kimberg D. V., Field M., Gershon E., Schooley R. T., Henderson A. Effects of cycloheximide on the response of intestinal mucosa to cholera enterotoxin. J Clin Invest. 1973 Jun;52(6):1376–1383. doi: 10.1172/JCI107310. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Moritz M., Iber F. L., Moore E. W. Rabbit cholera: effects of cycloheximide on net water and ion fluxes and transmural electric potentials. Gastroenterology. 1972 Jul;63(1):76–82. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Rausis C., Robinson J. W. Sensibilite de la muqueuse intestinale à l'insuffisance circulatoire. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax. 1972 Feb 15;61(7):217–219. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Robinson J. W., Antonioli J. A., Mirkovitch V. The intestinal response to ischaemia. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmakol Exp Pathol. 1966;255(2):178–191. doi: 10.1007/BF00543211. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Roggin G. M., Banwell J. G., Yardley J. H., Hendrix T. R. Unimpaired response of rabbit jejunum to cholera toxin after selective damage to villus epithelium. Gastroenterology. 1972 Dec;63(6):981–989. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Serebro H. A., Iber F. L., Yardley J. H., Hendrix T. R. Inhibition of cholera toxin action in the rabbit by cycloheximide. Gastroenterology. 1969 Mar;56(3):506–511. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Tutton P. J. The influence of cholinoceptor activity on the mitotic rate in the crypts of Lieberkühn in rat jejunum. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 1975 May-Jun;2(3):269–276. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1681.1975.tb03032.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Verbin R. S., Farber E. Effect of cycloheximide on the cell cycle of the crypts of the small intestine of the rat. J Cell Biol. 1967 Dec;35(3):649–658. doi: 10.1083/jcb.35.3.649. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Verbin R. S., Liang H., Saez L. M., Diluiso G., Goldblatt P. J., Farber E. Effects of inhibitors of protein synthesis on structure and function of the crypts of the small intestine. Exp Cell Res. 1971 Mar;65(1):81–93. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4827(71)80052-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Journal of Physiology are provided here courtesy of The Physiological Society

RESOURCES