Effect of cholera toxin on the production of eicosanoids by rat jejunum

1 Cholera toxin injected i.v. into rats stimulated the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and LTC4 by segments of jejunum, but it had no effect when added to the tissue in vitro. 2 Pretreatment of the animals with the compound BW 755C reduced the increased production of PGE2, LTB4 and LTC4 by i.v. cholera toxin. Pretreatment with indomethacin reduced the production of PGE2. 3 These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that arachidonate metabolites are involved in the diarrhoea induced by cholera toxin.