Segmental variability of membrane conductances in rat and human colonic epithelia. Implications for Na, K and Cl transport.

The membrane conductances in proximal and distal segments of rat and human colon were studied with microelectrodes, nystatin, ion channel blockers and Cl replacement. The results reveal that (1) in rat colon, total conductance (Gt) is greater in the proximal segment than in the distal segment, reflecting greater values of apical (Ga) and paracellular shunt (Gs) conductances in the proximal segment; in contrast, in human colon, Gt and its individual membrane components are similar in the proximal and distal segments, and lower than the corresponding values in rat colon; (2) amiloride sensitive apical Na conductances are absent in rat proximal colon, rat distal colon, and human proximal colon, but in human distal colon amiloride produces changes consistent with blockade of an apical Na conductance and inhibition of electrogenic Na transport; (3) a TEA-sensitive apical K conductance may be present in rat proximal colon (a K secretory epithelium), but not in rat distal colon (a K absorptive epithelium) or in either segment of human colon; and (4) in rat colon, replacement of mucosal and serosal Cl produces changes consistent with a substantial paracellular shunt permeability to Cl which is more marked in the proximal segment, whereas in human colon Cl replacement results in changes which suggest a relatively small paracellular shunt permeability to Cl which is similar in both segments. These data indicate marked segmental differences in Na, K and Cl transport in rat and human colon, and emphasise the hazards of applying models of colonic electrolyte transport in one species to another.