Brush border Mg2+-HCO-3-ATPase, supernatant carbonic anhydrase and other enzyme activities isolated from rat intestinal mucosa: effect of adrenalectomy and aldosterone administration

Duodenal epithelial sensing of luminal acid: role of carbonic anhydrases

Sensing the luminal contents is a prerequisite to activate appropriate gastrointestinal functions. A major task of the duodenal epithelium is to resist the repeated challenges of hydrochloric acid expelled from the stomach. Although extensive research in this field, the complete mechanisms providing this defence remain to be revealed. The duodenal epithelium exports bicarbonate into a submillimetre-thick mucus gel on top of the mucosal surface. Despite the very low pH of the luminal contents, the duodenal mucus-bicarbonate barrier provides a means of maintaining a virtually neutral pH at the epithelial surface. Instead of pH, CO₂ generated by the mixing of acid and bicarbonate at levels not found elsewhere in the body serves as the mediator for sensing the luminal acid. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyse the reversible hydration of CO₂ and are heavily expressed in the duodenal segment. Accumulating data support the key function of CAs in sensing luminal acid and CO₂. Recent advances demonstrate that the presence of CA II in upper villus plays a crucial role in enterocyte intracellular acidification preceding the secretory increase in response to luminal acid. However, CAs only have a minor role in the bicarbonate supply destined for duodenal bicarbonate secretion into the lumen. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge of how intraluminal acid is sensed by the duodenal mucosa, with a focus on the role of CAs.

Duodenal acidity "sensing" but not epithelial HCO3- supply is critically dependent on carbonic anhydrase II expression

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is strongly expressed in the duodenum and has been implicated in a variety of physiological functions including enterocyte HCO(3)(-) supply for secretion and the "sensing" of luminal acid and CO(2). Here, we report the physiological role of the intracellular CAII isoform involvement in acid-, PGE(2,) and forskolin-induced murine duodenal bicarbonate secretion (DBS) in vivo. CAII-deficient and WT littermates were studied in vivo during isoflurane anesthesia. An approximate 10-mm segment of the proximal duodenum with intact blood supply was perfused under different experimental conditions and DBS was titrated by pH immediately. Two-photon confocal microscopy using the pH-sensitive dye SNARF-1F was used to assess duodenocyte pH(i) in vivo. After correction of systemic acidosis by infusion of isotonic Na(2)CO(3), basal DBS was not significantly different in CAII-deficient mice and WT littermates. The duodenal bicarbonate secretory response to acid was almost abolished in CAII-deficient mice, but normal to forskolin- or 16,16-dimethyl PGE(2) stimulation. The complete inhibition of tissue CAs by luminal methazolamide and i.v. acetazolamide completely blocked the response to acid, but did not significantly alter the response to forskolin. While duodenocytes acidified upon luminal perfusion with acid, no significant pH(i) change occurred in CAII-deficient duodenum in vivo. The results suggest that CA II is important for duodenocyte acidification by low luminal pH and for eliciting the acid-mediated HCO(3)(-) secretory response, but is not important in the generation of the secreted HCO(3)(-) ions.

Lactobacilli facilitate maintenance of intestinal membrane integrity during Shigella dysenteriae 1 infection in rats

OBJECTIVE

Lactobacilli are used in various dairy products and fermented foods for their potential health beneficial effects. Recently we reported the protective role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus during Shigella dysenteriae 1 infection. Nevertheless, investigations on the membrane-stabilizing effect of L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus have not been done. Hence, the present study evaluated the effect of L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus on the maintenance of intestinal membrane integrity during S. dysenteriae 1-induced diarrhea in rats.

METHODS

Rats were divided into eight groups (n = 6 in each group). Induced rats received single oral dose of S. dysenteriae (12 x 10(8) colony-forming units [cfu]/mL). Treated rats received L. rhamnosus (1 x 10(7)cfu/mL) or L. acidophilus (1 x 10(7)cfu/mL) orally for 4 d, alone or in combination, followed by Shigella administration. At the end of the experimental period, animals were sacrificed and the assay of membrane-bound adenosine triphosphatases (Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, Ca(2+)-ATPase, and total ATPase), immunoblot analysis of tight junctional proteins (claudin-1 and occludin), and transmission electron microscopic studies were performed.

RESULTS

Induced rats showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the membrane-bound ATPases and reduced expression of tight junction proteins in the membrane, coupled with their increased expression in the cytosol, indicating membrane damage. Transmission electron microscopic studies correlated with biochemical parameters. Pretreatment with combination of L. rhamnosus and L. acidophilus significantly prevented these changes.

CONCLUSION

Lactobacillus rhamnosus and L. acidophilus synergistically offered better protection to the intestinal membrane when compared with individual treatments with these strains during S. dysenteriae 1 infection.

Effect of testosterone on carbonic anhydrase and MG(2+)-dependent HCO3-stimulated ATPase activities in rat kidney: comparison with estradiol effect

Effects of testosterone administration (TP; 1-3 mg/kg body weight, S.C., once daily for 7 days) on the cytosol carbonic anhydrase (CA) and tubular brush border Mg(2+)-dependent HCO3(-)-stimulated ATPase (Mg(2+)-HCO3(-)-ATPase) activities of normal and castrated male and female rat kidney were compared with estradiol (E2) effects. TP decreased kidney CA activity in a dose-dependent manner in all four animal conditions, and negative correlations were observed between cytosol CA activity and serum testosterone concentration. However, brush border Mg(2+)-HCO3(-)-ATPase activity was not affected by testosterone. Orchiectomy increased only CA activity and its value recovered to normal levels by 3 mg/kg TP replacement, whereas Mg(2+)-HCO3(-)-ATPase activity did not change. In the previous study, on the other hand, E2 administration activated both kidney enzymes in normal male rats and only Mg(2+)-HCO3(-)-ATPase in normal female rats. Testosterone and E2 conversely affected kidney CA activity in male rats. These facts suggest that the cytosol CA may control kidney functions on H+ and HCO3- metabolism under the balance of both sex hormones in the living body.

Mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract: distribution and ontogeny

The gastrointestinal tract is a well characterized target tissue for aldosterone, where it regulates electrolyte transport, particularly in the descending colon. Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of aldosterone receptors in gastrointestinal tissues. We have used specific cRNA probes for the rat mineralocorticoid receptor to explore both the distribution and ontogeny of mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract. Mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression is found throughout the small and large intestine, but is absent from the stomach. The highest levels are observed in the distal colon, and significant expression is found in the duodenum; in both tissues levels of expression are higher than those in kidney. In both the developing duodenum and colon, mineralocorticoid receptor gene expression precedes the development of the full physiological response to aldosterone. These findings emphasise the colon as an important target tissue for aldosterone, and raise the question of potential roles for aldosterone in the duodenum.

Role of rat large intestine in reducing diarrhea after 50% or 80% distal small bowel resection

The effects of intestinal resection on several intestinal parameters have been studied in the large intestine of rats one month after the surgical operation. The results show that both 50% and 80% distal small bowel resection increased net fluid absorption and mucosal permeability and caused expansion of the intercellular spaces of the large intestine. The increase in net fluid absorption was dependent upon the extent of the intestine removed. The cAMP and cGMP content of cecal and colonic mucosa were significantly reduced after jejunoilectomy. Changes in nucleotide levels were dependent on the length of the intestine resected. On the other hand, mucosa Na,K-ATPase specific activity was only increased in the cecum after 80% intestinal resection. The results are discussed in terms of adaptation to prevent diarrhea.

Further studies on the effect of aldosterone on Mg2+-HCO3(-)-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase from rat intestinal mucosa

The main purpose of this study is to elucidate the effect of adrenocorticoids on Mg2+-HCO3(-)-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase which are thought to be related to anion transport in mammalian intestinal mucosa and renal tubulus. Rat duodenal mucosa, large intestinal mucosa and kidney cortex were excised and homogenized with mannitol-Tris buffer (pH 7.1) and brush border fraction and cytosol were obtained by a differential fractionation procedure. Brush border Mg2+-HCO3(-)-ATPase and cytosol carbonic anhydrase activities in the duodenal mucosa decreased to 70% and 37% of normal values, respectively 5-11 days after adrenalectomy. Adrenalectomy also decreased significantly both enzyme activities in large intestinal mucosa; on the other hand, renal enzyme activities did not change. Four hours after a single injection of 20-80 micrograms/kg of aldosterone, ip, to adrenalectomized rats, Mg2+-HCO3(-)-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase activities in duodenal mucosa increased gradually to normal or near normal in dose-dependent fashion. Both enzyme activities in large intestinal mucosa were also increased by a larger dose of aldosterone. Again, renal enzyme activities were not affected by any dose of aldosterone. In contrast, corticosterone (1 mg and 4 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (50 micrograms 200 micrograms/kg) had no replacement effect on enzyme activities in all organs. These results showed that the mineralocorticoid, but not glucocorticoids, is a regulator of the enzyme activity of Mg2+-HCO3(-)-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase from intestinal mucosa. The true mechanisms by which both enzymes are activated by aldosterone are not clear at present.

Glycyrrhizic acid and its hydrolysate as mineralocorticoid agonist

Mineralocorticoid activity of glycyrrhetinic acid (GR) was studied in vivo (electrical potential difference in rat rectum) and in vitro (brush border Mg2+-HCO3- ATPase in rat small intestine, kidney cytosol binding of GR with and without RU-28362, anti-glucocorticoid compound) in order to clarify the mechanism of mineralocorticoid-like activity of GR. Scatchard analysis of [3H]aldosterone showed that Kd of higher affinity site (type I) 6.0 X 10(-9) M, Bmax 1.0 X 10(-14) mol/mg protein, and Kd of lower affinity site (type II) 1.6 X 10(-7) M, Bmax 7.5 X 10(-14) mol/mg protein. GR competed for [3H]aldosterone binding sites in kidney cytosol at the concentration of 10(4) times as that of unlabeled aldosterone. RU-28362 displaced aldosterone binding curve, whereas GR binding kinetic was not affected by this compound. Adrenalectomy caused a significant fall in brush border Mg2+-HCO3- ATPase activity (75% reduction compared with the initial level) which was not restored by GR administration. Electrical potential differences in the adrenalecomized rats were significantly lower than those in the control rats, which did not increase after GR administration.

Effect of aldosterone antagonists on aldosterone-induced activation of Mg2+ -HCO3- -ATPase and carbonic anhydrase in rat intestinal mucosa

In previous studies, Mg2+ -dependent, HCO3- -activated ATPase in the brush border and carbonic anhydrase in the cytoplasm of rat duodenal and jejunal mucosa decreased after adrenalectomy. Both enzyme activities increased to near normal levels 4 h after i.p. injection of aldosterone (40 micrograms/kg). These results suggest the possibility that both enzymes in the small intestinal mucosa may be mediators of the action of aldosterone. In the present studies, therefore, the effects of actinomycin D (500 micrograms/kg, i.p.), spironolactone (50 mg/kg, s.c.) and potassium canrenoate (50 mg/kg, s.c.) on aldosterone-induced activation of both enzymes in the upper small intestinal mucosa from adrenalectomized rats were examined to clarify the mechanism of action of aldosterone in enzyme levels. Actinomycin D inhibited carbonic anhydrase activity in small intestinal mucosa from normal rats 4 h after i.p. injection but had no effect on ATPase activity, while two other drugs had no effect on either enzyme activity in normal rats up to 4 h later. Pretreatment with these 3 drugs 1 h before aldosterone administration (40 micrograms/kg, i.p.) to adrenalectomized rats blocked the aldosterone-induced activation of ATPase and carbonic anhydrase in the upper small intestine. On the other hand, adrenalectomy and administration of aldosterone and its antagonists, alone or in combination, had no effect on kidney enzyme activities. These results confirm that Mg2+ -HCO3- -ATPase and carbonic anhydrase are mediators of the action of aldosterone in the upper small intestinal mucosa.