ANION CONTROL OF SODIUM ABSORPTION IN THE COLON

¹ Cell Physiology Laboratory, University of Adelaide at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, S.A. 5011, Australia

The regulatory functions of anions in colonic absorption of sodium are unknown. Absorption of sodium ions was assessed with chloride, butyrate, nitrite, sulphate and oxalate anions in segments of proximal/distal colon and in defunctioned colon. Efficiency of sodium absorption was related to availability of CO₂ in mucosal cells: CO₂ availability was enhanced (P 0·01) by sodium nitrite or diminished (P 0·01) in defunctioned colon. Sodium nitrite stimulated absorption of sodium in the distal colon where bicarbonate secretion predominated and n-butyrate stimulated absorption of sodium in the proximal colon where hydrogen ion secretion predominated. Sodium absorption was very significantly diminished (P 0·01) in defunctioned colon. Results indicate that sodium absorption in the colon is both a double anion exchange system as well as cation/anion co-transport. Anions act differently on sodium absorption along the length of the colon and prolonged lack of anions plays a part in sodium malabsorption of the defunctioned colon.