Brain natriuretic peptide stimulates K and Cl secretion across porcine distal colon epithelium

Porcine distal colon epithelium was mounted in Ussing chambers and bathed with porcine Ringer solution. The serosal addition of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP; 50 nM) or atriopeptin III (AP-III; 500 nM) produced significant increases (50-75 microA/cm2) in short-circuit current (Isc). These increases in Isc were not inhibited by pretreatment with tetrodotoxin (TTX) or 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA). Analysis of concentration-response relationships revealed that BNP was 5.8-fold more potent than AP-III in stimulating the Isc. BNP and AP-III significantly increased the serosal-to-mucosal (S----M) Cl flux and reduced net Cl absorption by 38 and 41%, respectively. The BNP-stimulated S----M Cl flux was abolished when HCO3 was removed. In contrast, the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-stimulated S----M Cl flux was not affected by HCO3 replacement. In addition to their effects on Cl transport, BNP and AP-III increased net Rb secretion by 79 and 58%, respectively. BNP-stimulated Rb secretion was reduced by 76% after HCO3 replacement. These results indicate that natriuretic peptides stimulate K- and HCO3-dependent Cl secretion which is not present under basal conditions or after VIP stimulation. The difference in potency between BNP and AP-III suggests that ANP-B receptors may mediate their effects on ion transport in the porcine colon.