Chloride, sodium, potassium and hydrogen ion transport in isolated canine gastric mucosa

1. The fluxes of isotopically labelled Na+, Cl- and K+ in each direction and H+ secretion across isolated dog gastric mucosa were measured under short-circuit conditions. 2. In the non-stimulated state, the net flux of Na+ was 6.61 micronequiv/cm2.hr from mucosal (luminal, secretory) to serosal (nutrient, blood) side, whereas the net flux of Cl- was only 0.79 micronequiv/cm2.hr, and the direction was from serosal to mucosal side. 3. There was a positive correlation between the net flux of Cl- and acid secretion, however, net flux of Na+ was not correlated with acid secretion initiated by secretagogue treatment. 4. With ion substitution studies, only replacement of mucosal Na+ with choline produced a highly significant decrease in potential difference (p.d.). This indicates that active transport of Na+ from the mucosal to the serosal side is the most important source for the generation of the gastric p.d. in dog gastric mucosa. 5. From ion substitution studies, it was also observed that Cl- in either mucosal or serosal solution is necessary for maintaining acid secretion; whereas only serosal Na+ and K+ are essential for acid secretion. Removal of either Na+ or K+ from the mucosal solution had no effect on acid secretion. 6. Substitution of SO2-(4) for Cl- had no effect on active transport of Na+, but choline substitution for Na+ diminished active transport of Cl-.