Demonstration of active potassium transport in the mammalian colon

The mechanism responsible for K transport in the mammalian colon is controversial. Experiments were performed to determine whether K secretion involves active as well as passive driving forces in controls and in animals with a marked increase in K secretion. In these experiments a steady-state solution was established in proximal and distal colon of both control rats and animals fed a K-enriched diet during in vivo luminal perfusion, to compare the observed luminal [K] with predicted equilibrium [K] when net water and electrolyte movement approached zero. Transmural potential difference was measured simultaneously. A difference between the predicted equilibrium and observed luminal [K] under this condition indicates active transport. In controls the observed [K] of 20 mmol/liter in proximal colon markedly exceeded the predicted value of 6.2 +/- 0.3, mean +/- SE, indicating active secretion. In contrast, the observed [K] in distal colon of 5 mmol/liter was less than predicted (10.0 +/- 1.0), suggesting active absorption. In K-loaded animals active K secretion was demonstrable and increase above control in both segments of colon. In proximal colon the observed [K] rose to 40 mmol/liter, compared to a predicted value of 7.2 +/- 0.3, whereas in distal colon the observed [K] was 50 mmol/liter vs. a predicted value of 7.0 +/- 0.8. These studies suggest active K secretion in proximal, but not in distal colon of control animals. Further, these data suggest that the increase in the capacity for K secretion that occurs in response to chronic K loading involves stimulation of an active mechanism in both proximal and distal colon.