Effect of sodium taurocholate on secretion by amphibian gastric mucosa in vitro

Effects of sodium taurocholate on the electrical and secretory activity of amphibian gastric mucosa have been studied in vitro. Exposure of the luminal surface of fundic mucosa to high concentrations (5 X 10(-2) M) at low pH (2.0 and 3.0) produced a marked fall in potential difference and electrical resistance. At lower concentrations (10(-3) to 10(-4) M) and higher pH (7.4), taurocholate did not alter the electrical properties but significantly increased net acidification from 1.39 +/- 0.27 to 2.01 +/- 0.18 mueq . cm-2 . h-1 (means +/- SE; P less than 0.01). Pretreatment of fundic mucosa with cimetidine resulted in net alkaline secretion (0.27 +/- 0.07 mueq . cm-2 . h-1), and addition of taurocholate (10(-4) M) to the luminal surface at pH 7.4 converted net alkalinization to net acidification (0.94 +/- 0.28 mueq . cm-2 . h-1). This response was not inhibited by atropine (10(-5) M) or somatostatin (10(-6) M) but exhibited marked tachyphylaxis. Taurocholate (10(-4) M) inhibited alkaline secretion in thiocyanate-treated fundic mucosa (0.63 +/- 0.04 to 0.14 +/- 0.09 mueq . cm-2 . h-1; P less than 0.001) and in spontaneously alkaline-secreting antral mucosa (0.36 +/- 0.12 to 0.09 +/- 0.06 mueq . cm-2 . h-1; P less than 0.05), but acidification did not occur. Apparent stimulation of acid secretion and simultaneous inhibition of alkaline secretion of sodium taurocholate may play a role in the pathogenesis of mucosal damage by bile.