Factors affecting the microclimate pH of the rat jejunum in ringer bicarbonate buffer

General characteristics of the microclimate layer on the mucosal surface of the rat jejunum incubated in bicarbonate buffers were investigated in vitro using pH sensitive flat membrane microelectrode. Jejunal surface microclimate (JSM) pH changed from 7.30+/-0.03 to 5.83+/-0.04 when the incubation buffer pH decreased from 8.03+/-0.02 to 6.12+/-0.01. Treatment of the mucosal side with mucolytic substances L-cysteine (1% (wt/v)) and 1,4-dithio-DL-threitol (2 mM) significantly (p<0.01) increased JSM pH. Respiratory chain inhibitor, sodium azide (10 mM) also significantly (p<0.05) increased JSM pH. D-Glucose (10 mM) at the mucosal side markedly (p<0.05) decreased JSM pH, which was attenuated by Na(+)/H(+) exchange inhibitor, amiloride (1 mM). Amiloride had no effect on JSM pH when D-glucose was not present at the mucosal side. In contrast to previous observations using bicarbonate free incubation buffers, we have demonstrated that JSM pH is not a constant value, but is dependent on pH of the incubation buffer. Additionally, Na(+)/H(+) exchanger does not contribute to acidic properties of JSM, when there is no D-glucose in the bicarbonate incubation buffer at the mucosal side of the tissue. In conclusion, we suggest that the bicarbonate buffers which are more close to in vivo situation than bicarbonate free buffers should be preferable incubation media when examining JSM.