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Differences in jejunal and ileal response to E. coli enterotoxin: possible mechanisms
M B Cohen1, M R Thompson, R A Giannella
1Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati 45229.
The American Journal of Physiology
|July 1, 1989
Summary
The intestine inactivates heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) from Escherichia coli, limiting diarrhea. The jejunum inactivates STa more effectively than the ileum, resulting in shorter secretory responses.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Escherichia coli producing heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) cause diarrhea through intestinal fluid secretion.
- Understanding factors modulating this secretory response is crucial for managing infectious diarrhea.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the factors influencing the duration and intensity of STa-induced intestinal secretion.
- To compare the modification and inactivation of STa in the rat jejunum and ileum.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ligated in situ loops of rat jejunum and ileum to study STa-induced secretion.
- Compared the time course of STa secretion in different intestinal segments.
- Analyzed STa modification using high-performance liquid chromatography and brush-border membrane binding assays.
Main Results:
- Jejunal secretory response to STa was brief (≤30 min), while the ileal response was sustained (≥3 h).
- STa modification occurred in both segments, but was quantitatively greater and qualitatively different in the jejunum.
- A strong correlation was observed between the presence of unmodified STa and sustained fluid secretion.
Conclusions:
- The degree of STa inactivation or removal by the intestine correlates with the observed secretory response.
- Intestinal STa inactivation is a host mechanism to limit the duration of the secretory response and diarrhea.