Sodium and chloride absorptive defects in the small intestine in Slc26a6 null mice

Aims: The newly discovered anion transporter PAT1 (SLC26A6) is colocalized with the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE3 and the Na+ glucose cotransporter SGLT1 on the apical membrane of small intestinal villi. Aims and methods: To ascertain the role of Slc26a6 in jejunal salt and fluid absorption, and its interplay with NHE3 and the sodium-glucose cotransporter SGLT1, muscle-stripped jejuna from Slc26a6 and NHE3 +/+ and -/- mice were mounted in Ussing chambers, and electrical parameters, and 36Cl- and 22Na+ fluxes were measured. In parallel studies the expression of the apical Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE3) was examined by immunoflu…