[New data on the mechanisms of the effect of cholera toxin]

Data from the literature on cholera pathogenesis in man and experimental animals are presented. The essence of secretion and filtration theories of rapid dehydration of the intestinal tract as well as that of the secretion-filtration theory proposed by the author are discussed. The data of both national and foreign authors are used in the discussion of the mechanisms of cholera toxin action. New observations on changes in the enzyme content (adenylate- and guanylate-cyclase systems) as well as the data on changes of the element composition of epithelial cells of different parts of the small intestine villi, on the role of local immunity in prevention of cholera toxicity are presented from the author's own observations and those of the laboratory staff members.