Role of calcium in the regulation of colonic secretion in the rat

In vitro experiments were performed in rat colon to define the role of calcium in the regulation of electrolyte transport. Neither basal net sodium absorption (JNanet) nor JClnet was affected by varying serosal calcium from 0 to 3.0 mM, but both were decreased by 4.8 mM calcium. Removal of serosal calcium completely inhibited the effect of bethanechol, a muscarinic cholinergic agonist, which inhibits neutral sodium-chloride absorption in 1.2 mM calcium. In contrast, theophylline significantly decreased JNanet and JClnet both in the presence and absence of calcium, but the effects of theophylline were significantly less in calcium-free media. In 3.0 mM calcium bethanechol inhibited JCLnet significantly greater than JNanet and in 4.8 mM calcium bethanechol decreased JClnet equivalent to the increase in short-circuit current without significantly altering JNanet. We conclude that 1) high [Ca2+] inhibits net sodium and net chloride absorption; 2) the alteration of electrolyte transport by bethanechol is dependent on extracellular calcium, and the alteration of electrolyte transport by theophylline is not dependent on extracellular calcium but may be dependent on intracellular calcium; and 3) in addition to inhibition of neutral NaCl absorption, bethanechol stimulates chloride secretion.