Corticosteroid alteration of active electrolyte transport in rat distal colon

To determine the effect of corticosteroids on active transport processes, unidirectional fluxes of 22Na, 36Cl, and 42K were measured under short-circuit conditions across isolated stripped distal colonic mucosa of the rat in control, secondary hyperaldosterone, and dexamethasone-treated animals. In controls net sodium and chloride fluxes (JNanet and JClnet) and short-circuit current (Isc) were 6.6 +/- 2.2, 7.6 +/- 1.6, and 1.3 +/- 0.2 mu eq X h-1 X cm-2, respectively. Although aldosterone increased Isc to 7.3 +/- 0.5 mu eq X h-1 X cm-2, JNanet (6.9 +/- 0.7 mu eq X h-1 X cm-2) was not altered and JClnet was reduced to 0 compared with controls. Dexamethasone also stimulated Isc but did not inhibit JClnet. In Cl-free Ringer both aldosterone and dexamethasone produced significant and equal increases in JNanet and Isc. Theophylline abolished JNanet in control animals but not in the aldosterone group. Aldosterone reversed net potassium absorption (0.58 +/- 0.11 mu eq X h-1 X cm-2) to net potassium secretion (-0.94 +/- 0.08 mu eq X h-1 X cm-2). Dexamethasone reduced net potassium movement to 0 (-0.04 +/- 0.12 mu eq X h-1 X cm-2). These studies demonstrate that 1) corticosteroids stimulate electrogenic sodium absorption and 2) aldosterone, but not dexamethasone, inhibits neutral NaCl absorption and stimulates active potassium secretion. The effects of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids on electrolyte transport are not identical and may be mediated by separate and distinct mechanisms.