The action of R51619 on transport processes in the rat small intestine

R51619, an agent reported to release endogenous acetylcholine, increased the potential difference and short-circuit current across non-stripped, but not stripped sheets of rat mid-intestine. The response was abolished by both hexamethonium and atropine. R51619 stimulated fluid accumulation by intestinal loops in-vivo suggesting its predominant effect is to stimulate anion secretion. These results are consistent with R51619 releasing endogenous acetylcholine within the myenteric plexus to activate postganglionic cholinergic fibres which stimulate intestinal secretion via muscarinic cholinoreceptors.