Effect of the thiol-oxidizing agent diamide on NH2Cl-induced rat colonic electrolyte secretion

The granulocyte-derived oxidant, monochloramine (NH2Cl), is known to stimulate chloride ion secretion in rat distal colonic mucosa mounted in Ussing chambers, through mechanisms that are sensitive and insensitive to tetrodotoxin (TTX). The possible role of intracellular thiols, in the mechanism of action of NH2Cl as a secretagogue, was evaluated with the thiol-oxidizing agent diamide and by measuring tissue sulfhydryl levels in response to NH2Cl. Serosal exposure to the antioxidant glutathione (0.25 mM), 5 min before NH2Cl (50 microM) addition, decreased the maximal effect of 50 microM NH2Cl on short-circuit current (Isc). The NH2Cl-stimulated increase in Isc was not affected by mucosal amiloride (5 microM). Pretreatment with 0.1 mM diamide shortened the lag period before the increase in Isc in response to NH2Cl, but it did not affect the maximal increase in Isc. Although TTX (0.5 microM) increased the lag time for achievement of the maximal Isc response to NH2Cl, the neurotoxin did not inhibit the effect of diamide, suggesting that diamide acts primarily on the nonneural component of NH2Cl-stimulated secretion. Incubation of colonic mucosa with NH2Cl, with or without diamide, decreased cellular acid-soluble sulfhydryl concentrations. Taken together, the results support a role for epithelial cell thiols in NH2Cl-stimulated electrolyte secretion by the rat colon.