Effects of metabolic disturbances on potential difference across intestinal wall of rat

¹ Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Japan

The potential difference across the wall of the small intestine was determined in vitro under a variety of conditions using rats. When the normal Ringer's containing 200 mg/100 ml glucose was applied on both sides of the wall, the potential difference attained 5–9 mv, the serosal side being positive. The potential difference was temperature dependent, becoming reduced at low temperature, the temperature coefficient being 1.7 between 40 and 34 C. The potential difference was inhibited with 0.1 mm monoiodoacetic acid, 1 mm sodium azide, 0.1 mm dinitrophenol, and 50 µm ouabain applied on the mucosal side. Withdrawal and restitution of 200 mg/100 ml glucose on the mucosal side induced a rapid decline and recovery of the potential difference. The lowered potential difference was partially recovered by 200 mg/100 ml galactose but not by sorbitol.