Relative effects of systemic pH, PCO2, and HCO3 concentration on colonic ion transport

To determine the relative effects of systemic pH, PCO2, and bicarbonate concentration on colonic electrolyte transport, states of acute metabolic acidosis and alkalosis were created in Sprague-Dawley rats by gavage feeding (NH4)2SO4 and NaHCO3, respectively. During in situ perfusion of the distal colon in pentobarbital-anesthetized animals, electrolyte transport was measured before and after respiratory compensation of the systemic pH. Acute respiratory acidosis and alkalosis also were studied by ventilating animals with 0, 3, or 8% CO2. When animals in all groups were considered, net sodium absorption correlated well with blood PCO2 (r = 0.99) but not with blood pH. Net bicarbonate secretion correlated with the plasma (r = 0.95) and luminal (r = -0.63) bicarbonate concentrations but not with blood pH or PCO2. Net chloride absorption correlated with both blood PCO2 (r = 0.92) and the plasma bicarbonate concentration (r = 0.80). These results suggest that systemic PCO2 affects a sodium chloride absorptive process and that the plasma bicarbonate concentration affects a chloride absorptive-bicarbonate secretory exchange process in the rat colon.