Electrolyte Transport Capacity and Electrical Potentials of the Normal and the Inflamed Human Rectum In Vivo

Abstract

Rask-Madsen, J. & Brix Jensen, P. 1973. Electrolyte Transport Capacity and Electrical Potentials of the Normal and the Inflamed Human Rectum. Scand. J. Gastroent. 8, 169-175.

The primary purpose of the present study is to illustrate the application of a dialysis method for the study of water-electrolyte transport in inflammatory bowel disease. This simple method combined with measurement of the trans-mural potential difference (PD) seems to provide valuable information regarding the functional state of the epithelium. Patients with ulcerative colitis showed significant reduction in rectal net transport rates of sodium, chloride, potassium, and water, in response to active proctitis, when compared with control subjects. Also, the corresponding mean values of patients in complete remission were slightly lower, but insignificantly different from those of the controls. The plasma into lumen flux of sodium and the opposite unidirectional flux of chloride were significantly reduced in disease, and the changes were reflected by decreased transmural PD. The normal rectal mucosa was characterized by a high sodium flux ratio, a great PD, and a low ratio between net movements of sodium and potassium.

Key-words::

• Colitis, ulcerative
• intestine, large
• membrane potentials
• rectum