Evidence for an electrically silent, neurogenic fluid secretion in the rat jejunum in vivo

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanism behind neurogenic fluid secretion in the rat jejunum. In vitro, short-circuit current (SCC) and potential difference (PD) were measured with the conventional Ussing technique. In vivo, electric parameters and net fluid transport (NFT) were simultaneously recorded with two different techniques. In separate in vivo experiments alkaline secretion (As) was estimated. In vitro, the chloride channel blocking substance 5-nitro-2(-3-phenylpropyl-amino)benzoic acid (NPPB) and the loop diuretic substance furosemide (F) inhibited SCC, whereas the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide (Ace) lacked effect. Noradrenaline inhibited SCC and this effect was antagonized by NPPB and F. In vivo, cholera toxin induced a parallel increase in PD/SCC and fluid secretion. Conversely, mesenteric nerve stimulation (MNS) or administration of the nicotinic antagonist hexamethonium (Hx), concomitantly inhibited PD/SCC and fluid secretion. However, there was a poor correlation between the magnitudes of these effects. F inhibited SCC in vivo and also the SCC-effect of MNS. However, F had no effect on fluid secretion in vivo, nor on the NFT-effect of MNS. Jejunal As was stimulated by cholera toxin and MNS significantly inhibited As. The present results challenge the current view on the role of electrogenic chloride secretion in intestinal secretion. Alternative mechanisms are tentatively discussed.