Iodide transport in rat small intestine: dependence on calcium

1. The involvement of calcium in the regulation of iodide secretion was investigated in stripped sheets of rat small intestine. 2. In the absence of exogenous modifiers a net iodide absorption was observed in the rat proximal intestine, whereas the mid-intestine secreted iodide. 3. Removal of Ca2+ from the bathing solutions abolished net I- secretion in the mid-intestine. The calcium channel blocker verapamil produced similar effects on net I- secretion. 4. Theophylline increased net I- secretion both in the absence and in the presence of verapamil, but the effects of theophylline were less in the presence of verapamil or in Ca2+-free media. 5. Trifluoperazine inhibited basal iodide secretion and attenuated theophylline-induced I- secretion. 6. All the modifiers which prevented net I- secretion reduced iodide fluxes across the mucosal border and increased serosal iodide exit. The opposite was observed with theophylline. 7. It is suggested that I- secretion might result from changes in both mucosal and serosal I- permeabilities, and that both processes appear to be regulated by calmodulin.