Differential effects of harmaline and ouabain on intestinal sodium, phenylalanine and beta-methyl-glucoside transport.

Harmaline inhibits both the Na+ -K+ -ATPase activity and the uptake of L-phenylalanine in guinea-pig intestinal mucosa. The latter effect is not a direct consequence of the former, since higher concentrations are needed to inhibit the enzyme than the influx into the mucosa; Furthermore the uptake is still sensitive to harmaline when the Na+ -K+ -ATPase has been fully inhibited by ouabain. Harmaline can inhibit L-phenylalanine influx at a concentration at which it does not affect intracellular ion concentrations. Ouabain, however, inhibits the uptake of L-phenylalanine only after a 30 min preincubation period, when the intracellular sodium concentration reached the extracellular level. Harmaline also interferes with the influx of beta-methyl-D-glucoside in the mucosa of the dog colon. Addition of harmaline at the mucosal face of the tissue suppresses all net transport of sodium and chloride ions and L-phenylalanine across the mucosa. Thus the same mode of action appears to apply in both the guinea-pig ileum and the dog colon.