Water and ion coupling in the rat cecum during dietary potassium loading.

The transepithelial net water movement (Jw) was minute by minute recorded in the cecum of Wistar rats adapted to a high potassium diet (HKD). The potential difference (PD), short circuit current (SCC) and unidirectional 22Na, 36Cl, and 89Rb fluxes were also measured. The hydrostatic and osmotic permeabilities were not modified by potassium adaptation when a standard bicarbonate buffer was employed. Potassium adaptation implicated the development of a secretory, transport-associated Jw (Jwt), associated to an increase in transepithelial PD, SCC and net sodium transport. Contrary to the case of control rats, no net chloride transport was observed in HKD rats. The secretory Jwt compensated, in the presence of sodium, chloride and bicarbonate, an absorptive Jwt. Water secretion was coupled to net potassium secretion. Replacement of chloride by sulphate ions was paralleled by the development of a net absorptive Jw and by increases in the transepithelial Pd and hydrostatic permeability. Replacement of the bicarbonate buffer by a tris-hepes buffer made drop both the observed absorptive Jw and PD amiloride sensitive Na+ entry was observed.