SODIUM PUMPS IN RAT SMALL INTESTINE IN RELATION TO HEXOSE TRANSFER AND METABOLISM

1. The nature of Na transfer across rat jejunum was studied by measuring the Na and fluid transfers and the electrical potential in the presence of galactose, mannose and glucose. 2. Galactose, actively transferred but not metabolized, caused an increase in the potential but no change in Na transfer or tissue resistance. 3. Mannose, not actively transferred but metabolized, caused a large increase in Na and fluid transfer without affecting the potential or tissue resistance. Similar results were obtained with glucose in the presence of phlorrhizin. 4. Galactose in the presence of mannose increased fluid and Na transfer to the level found with glucose, which is both actively transferred and metabolized. 5. These results are consistent with the view that there are two Na pumps associated with hexoses in rat jejunum, both moving Na towards the serosal side. One is an electrogenic pump, stimulated by hexose transfer, and which results in a rise in potential, and the other is a neutral pump which is stimulated by hexose metabolism and which does not affect the potential. © 1969 The Physiological Society