The electroneutral Na+:HCO3− cotransporter NBCn1 is a major pHi regulator in murine duodenum

Duodenocyte pHi control and HCO3− secretion protects the proximal duodenum against damage by gastric acid. The molecular details of duodenocyte pH control are not well understood. A selective duodenal expression (within the upper GI tract) has been reported for the electroneutral Na+:HCO3− cotransporter NBCn1 (Slc4a7). We aimed to determine the role of NBCn1 and NBCe2 in duodenocyte intracellular pH regulation as well as basal and agonist-stimulated duodenal bicarbonate secretion (JHCO3−), exploiting mouse models of genetic slc4a7 and slc4a5 disruption. Basal and forskolin (FSK)-stimulated JHCO3− was measured by single-pass perfusion in the duodenum of slc4a7−/− and slc4a7+/+ as well as slc4a5−/− and slc4a5+/+ mice in vivo, and by pH-stat titration in isolated duodenal mucosa in vitro. Duodenocyte HCO3− uptake rates were fluorometrically assessed after acidification of intact villi and of isolated duodenocytes. Slc4a7−/− mice displayed significantly lower basal and FSK-stimulated duodenal HCO3− secretion than slc4a7+/+ littermates in vivo. FSK-stimulated HCO3− secretion was significantly reduced in slc4a7−/− isolated duodenal mucosa. Na+- and HCO3−-dependent base uptake rates were significantly decreased in slc4a7−/− compared with slc4a7+/+ villus duodenocytes when measured in intact villi. Carbonic anhydrase (CA)-mediated CO2 hydration played no apparent role as a HCO3− supply mechanism for basal or FSK-stimulated secretion in the slc4a7+/+ duodenum, but was an important alternative HCO3− supply mechanism in the slc4a7−/− duodenum. NBCe2 (Slc4a5) displayed markedly lower duodenal mRNA expression levels, and its disruption did not interfere with duodenal HCO3− secretion. The electroneutral Na+:HCO3− cotransporter NBCn1 (slc4a7) is a major duodenal HCO3− importer that supplies HCO3− during basal and FSK-stimulated HCO3− secretion.