Electrophysiological characterization of electrolyte and nutrient transport across the small intestine in horses

The aim of this study was to characterize the transport mechanisms of electrolytes and nutrients across the jejunum of nine healthy horses electrophysiologically. The stripped mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers and tissue conductances (G(t)) and short circuit currents (I-sc) were continuously monitored. After blocking the sodium and potassium channels with amiloride, tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and barium, chloride secretion was stimulated by carbachol and forskolin. Subsequently, chloride channels were inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid, CFTRinh-172, N-(2-naphtalenyl)-(3.5-dibromo-2.4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylene glycine hydrazide (GlyH-101) and glibenclamide and their dose-response effect was investigated. The response to glucose, l-alanine and glycyl-l-glutamine was determined at two different mucosal pH values (pH 7.4 and 5.4 respectively). Mean basal I-sc was -0.47 +/- 0.31 mu Eq/cm(2)h and mean G(t) was 22.17 +/- 1.78 mS/cm(2). Amiloride and TEA did not alter the baseline I-sc. Barium, carbachol and forskolin significantly increased I-sc. Irrespective of the dose, none of the chloride inhibitors changed I-sc. All nutrients induced a significant increase in I-sc with the increase being significantly higher at pH 7.4 than at pH 5.4. In conclusion, there is evidence that chloride secretion in horses may be different from respective transport mechanisms in other species. The glucose absorption is suggestive of a sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 1. However, a decrease in luminal pH did not stimulate current response to peptides as shown for other mammals.