Interaction between sodium and chloride transport in canine tracheal mucosa

Canine tracheal mucosae were dissected and mounted as flat sheets in Ussing chambers. Unidirectional isotope fluxes of 22Na and 36Cl were performed across paired mucosae from the same animal. The average spontaneous potential difference was 42 + 1.2 mV (mean +/- SE) lumen negative. The short-circuit current (SCC) 3.09 +/- 0.36 mueq/cm2.h was accounted for by a net Cl secretion of 2.46 +/- 0.26 mueq/cm2.h toward the mucosa and net Na absorption of 0.46 +/- 0.13 mueq/cm2.h toward submucosa. Removal of Cl depressed SCC but had no effect on unidirectional or net Na transport (n = 7). By contrast, removal of Na (n = 6) or the addition of ouabain (n = 7) abolished net Cl secretion and greatly reduced SCC. Theophylline (n = 6) added to the submucosal bath no significant effect on Na transport but stimulated SCC and Cl secretion, suggesting hormonal regulation of Cl transport. The results suggest that the active transport of Na and Cl in this epithelium occur by electrically conductive pathways, i.e., the transport is “electrogenic.” Further it appears that Na transport is independent of the presence of Cl but that Cl transport depends on some parameter of active Na transport.