Effects of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 on ion transport by isolated rabbit gastric mucosa and rat intestinal epithelial cells.

The actions of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E2 (dmPGE2) were investigated on ion transport in in vitro rabbit fundic mucosa and rat isolated jejunal cells. Addition of dmPGE2 (1.3 X 10(-4)M) to the serosal side of the rabbit mucosa resulted in a significant decrease in the transmural potential difference (PD) and short circuit current (Isc). The transmembrane resistance (R) displayed a significant rise over control values. Furthermore, the net serosa to mucosa flux of chloride ion decreased while the net serosa to mucosa movement of sodium remained unchanged. In the rat intestinal cells, increasing the concentration of dmPGE2 from 10(-10) to 10(-4)M caused a fall in sodium efflux. These data indicate that dmPGE2 alters the rate of active transport of the predominant ion pump of the resting rabbit gastric mucosa and the rate of Na efflux from rat intestinal epithelial cells without apparently affecting the membrane permeability.