Bicarbonate and chloride transport across rat ileal basolateral membrane

The mechanisms of HCO3- and Cl- transport across basolateral membranes from rat ileum were investigated in isolated vesicles by means of uptake experiments. Neither Cl-/HCO3- exchanger nor Na(+)-(HCO3-)n cotransport seem to be present in ileal basolateral membranes. Moreover Cl- uptake is unaffected by cis Na+ and/or K+ gradients, indicating the absence of Na(+)-Cl-, K(+)-Cl- and Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl- symport activity. An electrically conductive pathway seems to be responsible for both HCO3- and Cl- fluxes. Evidence is also given for the presence of a Na+/H+ exchanger at the basolateral pole of ileal enterocytes.