Potassium secretion by rabbit descending colon: effects of adrenergic stimuli.

Stripped rabbit distal colonic mucosa was studied in vitro in Ussing chambers to investigate the effects of adrenergic stimuli on Na+, K+, and Cl- transport. The adrenergic stimuli epinephrine and norepinephrine decrease short-circuit current in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximal effect at 5 X 10(-7) M and a maximal effect between 10(-5) and 10(-4) M. The effects produced by norepinephrine and epinephrine can also be elicited by the beta 1-agonist dobutamine, but not by the beta 2-agonist terbutaline or the alpha-agonist phenylephrine. In addition, the effects of adrenergic stimulation can be inhibited by the beta-antagonist propranolol but not by the muscarinic antagonist atropine, the alpha 2-antagonist yohimbine, or tetrodotoxin. The decrease in short-circuit current elicited by adrenergic stimuli is accompanied by an increase in net K+ secretion with no change in net Cl- or Na+ transport. This increase in net K+ secretion elicited by beta-adrenergic stimulation can be inhibited by trifluoperazine but not by indomethacin. These studies suggest that K+ transport by the colon can be regulated by adrenergic agents acting via beta 1-receptors.