Role of tight-junctional pathways in bile salt-induced increases in colonic permeability

The effects of a dihydroxy bile salt, taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC), on the permeability and conductance of isolated, short-circuited segments of the rabbit descending colon were examined using conventional Ussing chamber techniques. Increasing concentrations of TCDC (1-4 mM) produced dose-dependent increases in sodium backflux (JNas leads to m) and tissue conductance (Gt) when applied to either the mucosal or serosal salines. However, mucosal addition was twice as potent in increasing JNas leads to m and Gt at 4 mM. Tracer experiments indicated that the transepithelial serosal-to-mucosal fluxes of sodium and mannitol are via an aqueous, unrestricted, free-solution pathway, while albumin movements are restricted through this pathway both in the absence and presence of mucosal TCDC. The changes in JNas leads to m, JMans leads to m, and Gt caused by 4 mM mucosal TCDC were largely reversed by rinsing the mucosal chamber with fresh buffer. It was also observed that osmotically induced volume flows in the serosal-to-mucosal direction could offset or reverse the changes in Gt produced by 2 mM mucosal TCDC, suggesting that the enhanced conductance pathway is in series with the lateral intercellular spaces. Taken together, these results suggest that low concentrations of TCDC alter the integrity of tight-junctional complexes between the epithelial cells of the rabbit colon.