Effects of potential damaging agents on the microclimate-pH in the rat jejunum

This study was designed to determine the pH of the intestinal surface in the rat jejunum in an attempt to investigate the effect of potential damaging agents on the microclimate-pH. A significant pH gradient was observed between the mucosal surface and the bulk phase; however, the microclimate-pH usually ranged from 6.5 to 7.5, irrespective of the wide range in the bulk pH. When the bulk pH was either 7.3 or 4, the microclimate-pH was approximately 6.7, while the microclimate-pH was approximately 7.4 when the bulk pH was raised to 9. The distance of the pH gradient was found to be approximately 900-1300 microns. After treatment with ouabain (10 mM) or amiloride (8 mM), or replacement of Na+ with Li+, the microclimate-pH significantly increased compared with the control (buffer solution). Chlorpromazine (2 mM) and ouabain also significantly increased the microclimate-pH, but at the same time, chlorpromazine decreased the bulk pH so that a more marked pH gradient was observed. Both aspirin (10 mM) and acetazolamide (80 mg/kg, iv) significantly decreased the microclimate-pH under the condition of the acidic bulk phase pH. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (5%) induced marked changes in microclimate-pH, the direction depending upon the bulk phase pH. Neither taurocholic acid (10 mM) nor glucose (10 mM) significantly changed the microclimate pH.