| Abstract: | By Ussing's flux chamber method the effect of ATP and acetylcholine (ACh) on the sodium transport was studied in bullfrog colon. The results obtained are as follows; 1. ATP added to the mucosal medium caused biphasic changes in the transmural potential difference (P.D.) and short-circuit current (S.C.C.), although serosal ATP was ineffective. After an initial rapid and transient rise, both the P.D. and S.C.C. increased in parallel to reach a peak in about 10 min suggesting that the tissue conductance is little affected by ATP. Addition of ouabain to the serosal fluid depressed both the P.D. and S.C.C. and abolished the electrical responses to ATP. The application of ouabain to the mucosal side did not cause any significant depression. These results can be explained in terms of stimulation of sodium pump by ATP added to the mucosal medium. 2. ACh added to either the mucosal or the serosal medium caused increased in the P.D. and the S.C.C. The serosal application was more effective than the mucosal application. The increase in S.C.C. was more remarkable than that in the P.D., indicating an increase in the tissue conductance. It is suggested that ACh stimulates ion transport systems by changing the membrane permeability of the colon. |
