The effect of chronic inflammation on electrolyte transport in rabbit ileal villus and crypt cells was determined with the use of a rabbit model of chronic ileitis. In both cells, Na+/H+ exchange was monitored by following recovery from an acid load, and Cl-/HCO3- exchange was monitored by following recovery from an alkaline load. In villus cells, recovery from an acid load was not affected; however, recovery from an alkaline load was slowed. These data suggest that chronic inflammation inhibits Cl-/HCO3- exchange in villus cells. In contrast, in crypt cells, recovery from an alkaline load was unaffected, whereas recovery from an acid load was accelerated. These data suggest that chronic inflammation stimulates Na+/H+ exchange in crypt cells. Inhibition of Cl-/HCO3- exchange in villus cells would be expected to inhibit coupled NaCl absorption, which occurs by the coupling of brush-border membrane (BBM) Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- exchange. Stimulation of Na+/H+ exchange in crypt cells, known to be present only on the basolateral membrane, alkalinizes the cell. This alkalinization may stimulate BBM Cl-/HCO3- exchange, resulting in HCO3- secretion. Thus these unique alterations in transporter activity suggest that different endogenous immune-inflammatory mediators may have differing effects on specific transporters in villus and crypt cells in the chronically inflamed ileum.