Abstract

This study was done to determine whether salicylate could affect alterations in intestinal absorption induced by preparations of enterotoxigenic micro-organisms. It was found in rats that salicylate increased intestinal monosaccharide uptake in vitro and reversed the inhibitory effects induced by cell-free preparations of Staphylococcus sp., Candida sp. and Klebsiella sp. In vivo, salicylates increased net water absorption in rat jejunum exposed to cell-free preparations of various micro-organisms. Increase in net fluid flux occurred after subcutaneous injection only with bacteria which stimulate adenylate cyclase activity. These observations suggest that the absorptive and anti-secretory effects of aspirin are cyclic nucleotide dependent. The potential clinical role of salicylates as anti-secretory agents in diarrhoeal diseases, particularly in children, requires further investigation.