Bicarbonate and chloride transport across rat ileal basolateral membrane

The mechanisms of HCO ₃ ^– and Cl^– transport across basolateral membranes from rat ileum were investigated in isolated vesicles by means of uptake experiments. Neither Cl^–/HCO ₃ ^– exchanger nor Na⁺–(HCO ₃ ^– )_n cotransport seem to be present in ileal basolateral membranes. Moreover Cl^– uptake is unaffected bycis Na⁺ and/or K⁺ gradients, indicating the absence of Na⁺–Cl^–, K⁺–Cl^– and Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl^– symport activity. An electrically conductive pathway seems to be responsible for both HCO ₃ ^– and Cl^– fluxes. Evidence is also given for the presence of a Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger at the basolateral pole of ileal enterocytes.