Effect of systemic acid-base balance on ileal secretion

We previously reported that systemic pH and HCO3 concentration affect ileal water and electrolyte absorption. To determine whether these effects could influence an ongoing secretory process, we measured transport in ileal loops exposed to either saline or 50-75 micrograms cholera toxin in mechanically ventilated Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. The effects of acute respiratory and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis were then examined. Decreases in systemic pH during respiratory acidosis caused equivalent increases in net water (54 +/- 8 microliters . cm-1 . h-1) and Na absorption (7 +/- 1 mu eq . cm- . h-1) and smaller increases in Cl absorption in cholera toxin compared with saline loops. These increases reversed the net secretion of these ions observed during alkalemia in the cholera toxin loops to net absorption. Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis and respiratory compensation of systemic pH of these metabolic disorders also altered cholera toxin-induced secretion in a direction consistent with the pH change. The increase in net HCO3 secretion caused by cholera toxin was unaffected by the respiratory disorders and did not vary with the HCO3 concentration in the metabolic disorders. These findings suggest that the systemic acid-base disorders that characterize intestinal secretory states may themselves alter intestinal absorptive function and fluid losses.