Transport Properties of Locust Ileum in Vitro: Effects of Cyclic Amp

1. Short-circuited locust ilea exhibited electrical properties remarkably similar to those of recta. The large short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial potential, both indicating net active absorption of anions, initially began to decline to zero but could be fully restored by adding cyclic AMP or extracts of corpus cardiacum and ventral abdominal ganglia to the haemocoel side. 2. Ion substitutions and radiotracer flux studies indicated that cyclic AMPinduced AISC was due to electrogenic Cl~ transport with kinetics identical to those of the rectum. Concurrent decreases in transileal resistance were due to increases in both C\~ and K (PK) permeabilities, most evident as a resistance decrease at the apical membrane. The APK was blocked by basolateral addition of Ba , as observed for recta. 3. Everted ileal sacs under open-circuit conditions absorbed a slightly hyperosmotic NaCl-rich fluid and the rate of absorption was increased more than twofold by cyclic AMP. This contrasts with stimulated recta which absorb primarily KC1 and a hyposmotic absorbate. Flux studies with short-circuited ilea demonstrated active absorption of Na (J^e t), which was stimulated twofold by cyclic AMP. Removal of external Na had little effect on Isc, suggesting that Ĵ e a t involves exchange for another cation, e.g. NH4 . 4. Ilea actively secreted acid at lower rates than do recta under open-circuit conditions. Under short-circuit conditions, cyclic AMP addition led to active alkalinization of the ileal lumen at high rates, and the large Isc represented the difference between active secretion of base equivalents and net absorption of Cl~. 5. The transport capacities of locust ilea and recta are compared in relation to their ultrastructure.