JCI - Active chloride secretion in the normal human jejunum.
- ️The Journal of Clinical Investigation
- ️Mon Dec 01 1980
Find articles by Davis, G. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Santa Ana, C. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Morawski, S. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
Find articles by Fordtran, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar
-
Abstract
To determine whether the small intestine normally secretes fluid, it would be necessary to reduce or inhibit the greater absorptive processes that would otherwise mask such secretion if present. To do this, we perfused bicarbonate-free solutions in the jejunum of normal subjects, because it has been shown that active absorption from this part of the human small intestine is dependent on luminal bicarbonate. We found that the jejunum did secrete sodium chloride and water when isotonic bicarbonate-free solutions were perfused. Further studies revealed that the sodium secretion was passive, but that chloride was secreted against an electrochemical gradient and that observed chloride flux ratios did not agree with the flux ratios calculated for passive chloride movement. We conclude, therefore, that the normal jejunum actively secretes chloride, but that this is masked by greater absorptive processes when balanced electrolyte solutions are perfused. The rate of this active chloride secretion may be one of the factors that regulate the rate of fluid absorption in the normal human intestine.
-
Browse pages
Click on an image below to see the page. View PDF of the complete article