We hypothesized that the function of duodenocyte apical membrane acid-base transporters are essential for H ϩ absorption from the lumen. We thus examined the effect of inhibition of Na ϩ /H ϩ exchanger-3 (NHE3), cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR), or apical anion exchangers on transmucosal CO 2 diffusion and HCO 3 Ϫ secretion in rat duodenum. Duodena were perfused with a pH 6.4 high CO 2 solution or pH 2.2 low CO2 solution with the NHE3 inhibitor, S3226, the anion transport inhibitor, DIDS, or pretreatment with the potent CFTR inhibitor, CFTRinh-172, with simultaneous measurements of luminal and portal venous (PV) pH and carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2] Ϫ loss by NHE3 inhibition and reduced intracellular acidification during CFTR inhibition is consistent with activation or unmasking of NHE3 activity by CFTR inhibition, increasing cell surface H ϩ available to neutralize luminal HCO 3 Ϫ with consequent CO2 absorption. NHE3, by secreting H ϩ into the luminal microclimate, facilitates net transmucosal HCO 3 Ϫ absorption with a mechanism similar to proximal tubular HCO 3 Ϫ absorption.CO 2 absorption; bicarbonate secretion; portal venous PCO2 EPITHELIAL HCO 3 Ϫ SECRETION is considered to be the primary defense against duodenal injury from gastric acid. One of the unexplained mysteries of duodenal HCO 3 Ϫ secretion is why it is needed, given that secretion into the lumen from pancreas and liver is more than adequate to fully neutralize the bulk luminal content (13). Epithelial HCO 3 Ϫ secretion has thus been hypothesized to neutralize a distinct "preepithelial layer" adjacent to the apical plasma membrane of the mucosa (10, 24). Moreover, the upper intestine absorbs HCO 3 Ϫ by an electroneutral Na ϩ -dependent mechanism, hypothesized to be Na ϩ /H ϩ exchange (37). Since the epithelial Na ϩ /H ϩ exchanger (NHE) 3, which helps facilitate intestinal neutral NaCl absorption, is highly expressed in duodenum (31), we wondered whether duodenal NHE3 additionally functions as an H ϩ secretor, as it does in the proximal tubule (33, 38), facilitating HCO 3 Ϫ absorption. The duodenum must also absorb ϳ450 mmol of gastric H ϩ /24 h to decrease luminal hydrogen concentration ([H ϩ ]) by 6 log orders over its 15-cm length (12). HCl in the duodenal lumen is neutralized by HCO 3 Ϫ secreted by the pancreas and duodenal epithelium. This generates extremely high luminal CO 2 pressures (PCO 2 Ͼ 400 Torr), which are dissipated by the proximal jejunum (32). Gastric mucosal CO 2 and H ϩ permeability is low, since pyloric obstruction leads to severe metabolic alkalosis due to the inability of the normal stomach to absorb substantial quantities of H ϩ or CO 2 (16). Thus the duodenum is the major site for intestinal H ϩ and CO 2 absorption.We have demonstrated sequential transmucosal CO 2 and H ϩ movement from duodenal lumen into the portal vein (PV), facilitated by epithelial cytosolic and membrane-bound carbonic anhydrases (CAs) in the rat (27). Cellular acidification by luminal CO 2 /H ϩ rapidly induces protective responses su...