Pharmacological suppression of rat distal colon chloride secretion requires two blockers.

Rat distal colon epithelium is frequently employed to assess the effect of natural and synthetic chemicals on chloride secretion. Inhibition of chloride secretion is often reported as the loop diuretic-sensitive portion of short-circuit current (Isc). The present work challenges the hypothesis that a loop diuretic alone is able to fully abolish chloride secretion. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber. The effects on short-circuit current of replacement of normal Ringer by a low (2.5 mmol/L) Cl solution and of blockers of basolateral Na, K, 2 Cl symport (bumetanide), apical Cl channels (diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, DPC), and anion exchange (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, SITS) alone and combined were assessed. Low Cl reversibly decreased Isc by 76%. In normal Ringer, bumetanide decreased Isc by 65%. SITS also had a significant effect at the serosal side, but not at the apical side, where DPC caused a 40% decrease. Chloride replacement, bumetanide and DPC, but not SITS, increased epithelial resistivity. Combined blockade of Na, K, 2 Cl symport and apical Cl channels, of Na, K, 2 Cl symport and anion antiport, or of anion antiport and apical Cl channels was needed to achieve reduction of short circuit current to the same extent seen with chloride replacement. Present results indicate that Isc of the unstimulated epithelium is mostly due to chloride secretion, and at least two blockers are required to abolish it. This fact should be taken into account in studies of chloride secretion-stimulating agents.

Pharmacological suppression of rat distal colon chloride secretion requires two blockers.

Rat distal colon epithelium is frequently employed to assess the effect of natural and synthetic chemicals on chloride secretion. Inhibition of chloride secretion is often reported as the loop diuretic-sensitive portion of short-circuit current (Isc). The present work challenges the hypothesis that a loop diuretic alone is able to fully abolish chloride secretion. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber. The effects on short-circuit current of replacement of normal Ringer by a low (2.5 mmol/L) Cl solution and of blockers of basolateral Na, K, 2 Cl symport (bumetanide), apical Cl channels (diphenylamine-2-carboxylate, DPC), and anion exchange (4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid, SITS) alone and combined were assessed. Low Cl reversibly decreased Isc by 76

. In normal Ringer, bumetanide decreased Isc by 65

. SITS also had a significant effect at the serosal side, but not at the apical side, where DPC caused a 40

decrease. Chloride replacement, bumetanide and DPC, but not SITS, increased epithelial resistivity. Combined blockade of Na, K, 2 Cl symport and apical Cl channels, of Na, K, 2 Cl symport and anion antiport, or of anion antiport and apical Cl channels was needed to achieve reduction of short circuit current to the same extent seen with chloride replacement. Present results indicate that Isc of the unstimulated epithelium is mostly due to chloride secretion, and at least two blockers are required to abolish it. This fact should be taken into account in studies of chloride secretion-stimulating agents.

Concentration-dependence of dithiothreitol effects on rat distal colon electrophysiology

Dithiothreitol (DTT), at 1 mmol/L or higher, is widely used as a mucolytic in gastrointestinal research. Previous observations suggest that it may be toxic to the mucosa. DTT effects on the mucosal electrical behavior were assessed. Cumulative concentration-response relationships of DTT effects on rat distal colon mucosa were studied. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber under short-circuit conditions. The effects of concentrations ranging from 1 mumol/L to 1 mmol/L, applied to either the mucosal or serosal side, were studied. As compared with control, untreated preparations, DTT depressed short-circuit current at 10 mumol/L and higher when applied to the serosal side, and at 50 mumol/L and higher when applied to the mucosal side of the epithelium. On the other hand, transepithelial resistivity showed a progressive increase with DTT applied to either side at a concentration of up to 500 mumol/L, while at the highest concentration (1 mmol/L) a marked decrease in resistivity occurred. Neither the short-circuit current decrease, nor the resistivity collapse showed recovery after repeated rinsing with DTT-free solution. It is concluded that DTT affects epithelial electrical properties at low concentrations, and therefore its use as a mucolytic for electrophysiological studies should be discouraged.

Concentration-dependence of dithiothreitol effects on rat distal colon electrophysiology

Dithiothreitol (DTT), at 1 mmol/L or higher, is widely used as a mucolytic in gastrointestinal research. Previous observations suggest that it may be toxic to the mucosa. DTT effects on the mucosal electrical behavior were assessed. Cumulative concentration-response relationships of DTT effects on rat distal colon mucosa were studied. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber under short-circuit conditions. The effects of concentrations ranging from 1 mumol/L to 1 mmol/L, applied to either the mucosal or serosal side, were studied. As compared with control, untreated preparations, DTT depressed short-circuit current at 10 mumol/L and higher when applied to the serosal side, and at 50 mumol/L and higher when applied to the mucosal side of the epithelium. On the other hand, transepithelial resistivity showed a progressive increase with DTT applied to either side at a concentration of up to 500 mumol/L, while at the highest concentration (1 mmol/L) a marked decrease in resistivity occurred. Neither the short-circuit current decrease, nor the resistivity collapse showed recovery after repeated rinsing with DTT-free solution. It is concluded that DTT affects epithelial electrical properties at low concentrations, and therefore its use as a mucolytic for electrophysiological studies should be discouraged.(AU)

Sodium-deprived rat distal colon epithelial response to acute hypoxia and reoxygenation.

In normal rat distal colon isolated mucosa, basal short-circuit current (Isc) is mostly due to chloride secretion. Isc is depressed by a brief (5 min) acute hypoxia and overshoots above baseline during reoxygenation. Sodium deprivation raises serum aldosterone levels and leads to expression of functional epithelial sodium channels which are amiloride-sensitive. Thus, in sodium-deprived rats (SDRs) Isc is dependent on electrogenic sodium absorption. Since the ion primarily responsible for the Isc is different in each functional condition, it is not known whether hypoxia and reoxygenation affect SDRs epithelial response in the same way as in normal rats. Therefore the electrical behavior of isolated mucosa preparations from normal and SDRs was studied in an Ussing chamber, and the effect of the epithelial sodium channel blocker, amiloride sensitive, basal Isc than controls. Their response to hypoxia (expressed as a fraction of basal Isc) was similar to controls but upon reoxygenation their recovery was incomplete. SDRs response to hypoxia was not affected by amiloride at any concentration tested. However, post-hypoxic recovery was modified by amiloride in a concentration-dependent way: it was incomplete at 10(-8) M, complete at 10(-6) M, and at 10(-4) M it overshooted above baseline values. Therefore, in sodium-deprived rats, sodium channel blockade reverts the pattern of blunted recovery to the overshooting pattern seen normal rats. These results may be explained by two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses: Epithelial sodium channel blockade in sodium-deprived rats might (1) unmask a basal chloride conductance, and (2) interfere with a negative interaction between sodium chloride conductances.

Concentration-dependence of dithiothreitol effects on rat distal colon electrophysiology.

Dithiothreitol (DTT), at 1 mmol/L or higher, is widely used as a mucolytic in gastrointestinal research. Previous observations suggest that it may be toxic to the mucosa. DTT effects on the mucosal electrical behavior were assessed. Cumulative concentration-response relationships of DTT effects on rat distal colon mucosa were studied. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber under short-circuit conditions. The effects of concentrations ranging from 1 mumol/L to 1 mmol/L, applied to either the mucosal or serosal side, were studied. As compared with control, untreated preparations, DTT depressed short-circuit current at 10 mumol/L and higher when applied to the serosal side, and at 50 mumol/L and higher when applied to the mucosal side of the epithelium. On the other hand, transepithelial resistivity showed a progressive increase with DTT applied to either side at a concentration of up to 500 mumol/L, while at the highest concentration (1 mmol/L) a marked decrease in resistivity occurred. Neither the short-circuit current decrease, nor the resistivity collapse showed recovery after repeated rinsing with DTT-free solution. It is concluded that DTT affects epithelial electrical properties at low concentrations, and therefore its use as a mucolytic for electrophysiological studies should be discouraged.

Sodium-deprived rat distal colon epithelial response to acute hypoxia and reoxygenation.

In normal rat distal colon isolated mucosa, basal short-circuit current (Isc) is mostly due to chloride secretion. Isc is depressed by a brief (5 min) acute hypoxia and overshoots above baseline during reoxygenation. Sodium deprivation raises serum aldosterone levels and leads to expression of functional epithelial sodium channels which are amiloride-sensitive. Thus, in sodium-deprived rats (SDRs) Isc is dependent on electrogenic sodium absorption. Since the ion primarily responsible for the Isc is different in each functional condition, it is not known whether hypoxia and reoxygenation affect SDRs epithelial response in the same way as in normal rats. Therefore the electrical behavior of isolated mucosa preparations from normal and SDRs was studied in an Ussing chamber, and the effect of the epithelial sodium channel blocker, amiloride sensitive, basal Isc than controls. Their response to hypoxia (expressed as a fraction of basal Isc) was similar to controls but upon reoxygenation their recovery was incomplete. SDRs response to hypoxia was not affected by amiloride at any concentration tested. However, post-hypoxic recovery was modified by amiloride in a concentration-dependent way: it was incomplete at 10(-8) M, complete at 10(-6) M, and at 10(-4) M it overshooted above baseline values. Therefore, in sodium-deprived rats, sodium channel blockade reverts the pattern of blunted recovery to the overshooting pattern seen normal rats. These results may be explained by two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses: Epithelial sodium channel blockade in sodium-deprived rats might (1) unmask a basal chloride conductance, and (2) interfere with a negative interaction between sodium chloride conductances.

Concentration-dependence of dithiothreitol effects on rat distal colon electrophysiology.

Dithiothreitol (DTT), at 1 mmol/L or higher, is widely used as a mucolytic in gastrointestinal research. Previous observations suggest that it may be toxic to the mucosa. DTT effects on the mucosal electrical behavior were assessed. Cumulative concentration-response relationships of DTT effects on rat distal colon mucosa were studied. Isolated mucosa preparations were mounted in an Ussing chamber under short-circuit conditions. The effects of concentrations ranging from 1 mumol/L to 1 mmol/L, applied to either the mucosal or serosal side, were studied. As compared with control, untreated preparations, DTT depressed short-circuit current at 10 mumol/L and higher when applied to the serosal side, and at 50 mumol/L and higher when applied to the mucosal side of the epithelium. On the other hand, transepithelial resistivity showed a progressive increase with DTT applied to either side at a concentration of up to 500 mumol/L, while at the highest concentration (1 mmol/L) a marked decrease in resistivity occurred. Neither the short-circuit current decrease, nor the resistivity collapse showed recovery after repeated rinsing with DTT-free solution. It is concluded that DTT affects epithelial electrical properties at low concentrations, and therefore its use as a mucolytic for electrophysiological studies should be discouraged.

[Influence of inhaled glucocorticoids on bone mineral density and bone metabolism]. / Influencia de los glucocorticoides inhalados sobre la densidad mineral ósea y el metabolismo óseo.

Inhaled glucocorticoids (IGs) are today the first-line treatment for bronchial asthma. The systemic effects of inhaled glucocorticoids, such as suppressing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, are generally less than those with oral glucocorticoids. However, there is a long-term risk of adverse effects on bone. The objective of this piece was to review the published data on the effects of IGs on bone metabolism markers and bone mineral density in adults and in pediatric patients. The reviewed studies do not provide uniform results. Nevertheless, in general they suggest that IGs can affect metabolism and bone mineral density, especially: 1) when high doses are administered (more than 400 micrograms/day in children and more than 800 micrograms/day in adults), 2) in pediatric patients, in whom growth in stature can also be affected, 3) in patients whose intake of calcium and vitamin D is inadequate, and 4) in postmenopausal women not undergoing hormone replacement therapy. In general, at therapeutically equivalent doses, beclomethasone has a greater deleterious effect on bone than does budesonide, which in turn has more of an effect than does fluticasone. In addition to the obvious precaution of using the lowest effective dose, other proposed preventive measures include: 1) adequate instruction on the use of aerosols, 2) the use of large volume spacer devices, 3) rinsing the mouth after administering IGs, and 4) dietary adjustments or supplements in order to ensure an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D.

Oxygen diffusive barriers of rat distal colon: role of subepithelial tissue, mucosa, and mucus gel layer.

The contributions of subepithelial tissue, mucosa, and mucus gel layer as restraints for oxygen diffusion in rat distal colon in vitro were assessed by comparing oxygen transfer through preparations of isolated submucosa, isolated mucosa with and without the superficial mucus gel layer, and mucosa-submucosa mounted as flat sheets in a diffusion chamber. One side of the chamber was gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2 while the time course of oxygen concentration rise was measured in the continuously stirred opposite side, initially equilibrated with near-zero oxygen solution. The procedure does not affect epithelial viability. Diffusion in isolated mucosa was the same before and after KCN (5 mM) treatment, suggesting that epithelial oxygen consumption does not influence transfer rates. Subepithelial tissue, mucosa, and mucus gel layer are roughly responsible, respectively, for 12%, 56%, and 32% of oxygen diffusive hindrance. Diffusion coefficients range from 13% (mucosa-submucosa) to 54% (isolated submucosa) of that of water. Subepithelial tissue accounts for about 12% of total diffusive restraint.