Video enhanced imaging of the fluorescent Na+ probe SBFI indicates that colonic crypts absorb fluid by generating a hypertonic interstitial fluid.

Extracellular accumulation of Na+ detected by video-enhanced microscopic imaging of the impermeant fluorescent probe SBFI confirms the view that colonic crypts produce a hypertonic ascorbate ca 1000 mOsm.kg-1, thereby generating a large osmotic pressure across the crypt wall. This creates a high fluid tension within the crypt lumen, sufficient to dehydrate faeces. When bathed in Tyrode the SBFI.Na+ fluorescence indicates a [Na+] ca 750 mM within the interstitial space of metabolizing rat descending colon. There is no evidence of interstitial Na+ accumulation in octanol (2 mM) or in rabbit colon incubated with 1.0 mM ouabain and no evidence of Na+ secretion via the crypt lumen during absorption.