The effects of theophylline and choleragen on sodium and chloride ion movements within isolated rabbit ileum.

1. Theophylline (10 mM) and choleragen change the direction of net Cl- movements across rabbit ileum, in the short-circuit current condition, from absorption to secretion. The specific activity ratio R of Cl- tracers within the tissue coming from mucosal and serosal solutions respectively is increased, which is consistent with an increase in Cl- exchange flux across the mucosal border. 2. Net Na+ movement is also changed from net absorption to secretion by theophylline and choleragen; the specific activity ratio R of Na+ tracers is raised by theophylline. Because of the large paracellular component to transepithelial Na+ movements, an increase in Na+ exchange flux across the mucosal border is not detected. 3. 2,4,6-Triaminopyrimidine (20 mM) which has been previously shown to block paracellular Na+ movements, blocks both the theophylline and choleragen-dependent reversal of net Na+ movement by preventing the decrease in m-s Na flux. The theophylline-dependent increase in the ratio R of Na+ is still present, and is consistent with an increase in Na+ exchange flux across the mucosal border--unmasked by removal of the paracellular flux components. 4. Ouabain (0.1 mM) abolishes net absorption of Na+ and Cl- in control and net secretion of Na+ and Cl- in theophylline-treated tissue. Ouabain does not affect the theophylline-dependent increase in Cl- exchange across the mucosal border. 5. Replacement of Ringer Cl- with SO24- or Na+ by choline prevents the effects of theophylline and choleragen on Na+ and Cl- fluxes respectively. 6. Ethacrynate (0.1 mM) prevents the theophylline-dependent effects on net Na+ movement. Raising ethacrynate to 0.2 mM abolishes the effects of theophylline on Cl- exchange. An interpretation of these results is that theophylline and choleragen raise the Cl- permeability of the brush border. This increases NaCl leakage from the hypertonic lateral intercellular space into the mucosal solution thereby causing secretion. The selective action of triaminopyrimidine and ethacrynate (0.1 mM) on Na+ flux indicates that Na+ and Cl- move via separate transport pathways across the mucosal border.