Surface and crypt cells of rabbit distal colon were separately isolated, and amilo ride-sensitive 22Na+ up take could only be dem onstrated in a crude membrane fraction derived from surface cells. For purification of apical membranes of surface and crypt cells (H+-K+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase w ere used as puta tive apical membrane markers. Apical membranes of surface cells were isolated after mild homogenization, low speed centrifugation, and subsequent fraction ation on a Percoll density gradient. Apical membranes o f crypt cells were collected after more vigorous ho m ogenization, followed by high speed centrifugation, and fractionation on a Percoll gradient. The mammalian colon contributes to the electro lyte homeostasis of the body. Under normal condi tions, the distal colon absorbs Na+, Cl", and water, whereas HCO^ and K+ are secreted (1). To study the mechanisms involved in translocating ions across the apical and basolateral membrane, purified mem brane vesicles from either pole of the epithelial cell have been recognized as powerful tools. However, the isolation of plasma membrane vesicles from rabbit distal colon is fraught with difficulties. The presence of mucus, which tends to aggregate membranes dur ing homogenization, and the strong attachment of cells to the basement membrane severely hamper the isolation of basolateral and apical plasma membrane vesicles. The lack of an accepted marker and the ab sence of a brush border are additional problems that are encountered during isolation of apical mem branes (2-4).Nevertheless, Wiener e ta l (2) developed a method to isolate simultaneously basolateral membrane vesi cles from rabbit distal colonic surface and crypt cells. In addition, procedures for isolating apical mem brane vesicles from rabbit distal colon have also been described (3, 4). However, in the latter isolation pro cedures, only surface cells were used. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a method for the simultaneous isolation of apical membrane vesicles from surface and crypt cells. To this end, the colonic surface cells were isolated as described by Gustin and Goodman (3) and crypt cells were col lected through mucosal scraping (2). The apical mem brane of rabbit colonic surface and crypt cells con tains a gastric-like (H+-K+)-ATPase that mediates active K+ absorption by this tissue (5-8). Therefore, this enzyme was used as a marker for apical mem branes of both cell types. The (H+-K+)-ATPase was measured as K+-stimulated ouabain-insensitive ATPase and as K+-stimulated SCH 28080-sensitive ATPase, since SCH 28080 is a specific inhibitor of the gastric (H+-K*)-ATPase (9). In addition, alkaline phosphatase activity was used as a putative marker. Fractions in which both markers were enriched were identified as purified apical membrane vesicles from surface and crypt cells. The usefulness of these iso lated fractions was evaluated by fusing the vesicles 112