Effects of atropine and guanethidine on canine intestinal absorption and blood flow

The possibility of tonic autonomic control over intestinal Na and H2O absorption and whether the cardiovascular system was involved was tested by administration of atropine or guanethidine. 3H2O and 22Na in saline perfused through the lumen were used to calculate unidirectional fluxes and total and absorptive site blood flow in canine ileum. Both atropine and guanethidine had qualitatively similar effects on absorption and blood flow with atropine being quantitatively greater. Net Na and H2O absorption were not increased significantly but their absorptive and secretory unidirectional fluxes were increased significantly. Total blood flow was not affected but absorptive site blood flow was increased and resistance decreased. The absorptive site blood flow was correlated with the absorptive Na fluxes similarly in all groups. The secretory fluxes of Na and H2O were correlated with estimated capillary pressure when all three groups were considered together. It was concluded that there is tonic cholinergic control over intestinal absorption which is mediated, in part, through cardiovascular effects. The findings were consistent with tonic parasympathetic activity having primarily a direct effect on gut absorption and blood flow but tonic sympathetic activity primarily modulating the direct effects of other regulatory mechanisms.