Ileal mucosal cyclic AMP and Cl secretion: serosal vs. mucosal addition of cholera toxin.

Changes in ion transport and cyclic AMP (cAMP) concentration produced by addition of cholera toxin to the serosal side of isolated rabbit ileal mucosa (CTs) were compared to the changes produced by addition to the mucosal side (CTm). CTs increased short-circuit current (SCC) as did CTm but it did so more slowly. CTs, unlike CTm, did not significantly decrease electrical conductance. Inhibition of the SCC response to theophylline, a measure of preexisting secretion, was almost complete 180 min after CTm but was not yet significant 180 min after CTs. Longer (280 min) after CTs, the SCC response to theophylline was reduced by 59%, a significant reduction but less than that caused by CTm. A statistically significant change in net Cl flux could not be demonstrated after CTs, although at 280 min the measured flux was halfway between the fluxes for control and CTm tissues. Cyclic AMP concentrations were determined at 190 min, 10 min after addition of theophylline. CTs, despite little or no effect on ion transport, increased cAMP to the same level as did CTm, and the effect on cAMP of adding toxin to both sides was additive. We conclude that 1) active secretion is probably stimulated by cholera toxin added on the serosal side, although more slowly than after addition to the mucosal side and 2) much of the toxin-stimulated cAMP content of the mucosa is not coupled to secretion.