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Effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) antagonism on rat jejunal fluid and electrolyte secretion induced by cholera andEscherichia colienterotoxins
  1. F H Mourada,
  2. C F Nassarb
  1. aDepartment of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, bDepartment of Physiology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
  1. Dr F Mourad, American University of Beirut Medical Center, PO Box 113–6044, Beirut, Lebanon. Email: fmourad{at}aub.edu.lb

Abstract

BACKGROUND The enteric nervous system is important in the pathophysiology of intestinal fluid secretion induced by cholera toxin (CT),Escherichia coli heat labile (LT), and heat stable (STa) toxins. The neurotransmitters involved are not fully elucidated. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), a potent intestinal secretagogue present in the enteric nervous system, is increased after exposure of the cat intestine to CT. Whether VIP is involved in the pathogenesis of cholera and other toxins in not known.

AIM To study in vivo the effect of VIP antagonism on jejunal fluid secretion induced by CT, LT, and STa.

METHODS CT, LT (25 μg), or 0.9% NaCl was instilled in an isolated 25 cm segment of rat jejunum, and the VIP antagonist (VIPa) [4Cl-D-Phe6, Leu17]-VIP (0.2 or 2 μg/kg/min) or 0.9% NaCl was given intravenously. Two hours later, single pass in vivo jejunal perfusion was performed to assess fluid movement. In STa experiments, intravenous VIPa or 0.9% NaCl was given and 30 minutes later the jejunal segment was perfused with a solution containing STa 200 μg/l.

RESULTS VIPa had no effect on basal intestinal fluid absorption. CT induced net fluid secretion (median −68 μl/min/g dry intestinal weight (interquartile range −80 to −56)) which was dose dependently reversed by VIPa (6.2 (−16 to 34) and 29 (17 to 42); p<0.01). Similarly, LT induced secretion (−63 (−73 to −30)) was attenuated by VIPa (0.2 μg/kg/min) (−15 (−24 to −1); p<0.01) and totally reversed to normal levels by VIPa (2 μg/kg/min) (37 (28–56); p<0.01 compared with LT and not significant compared with normal controls). STa induced secretion (−17 (−19 to −2)) was also reversed by VIPa (12 (9–23) and 14 (0–26); p<0.01).

CONCLUSION VIP plays an important role in CT, LT, and STa induced intestinal secretion and may be the final putative neurotransmitter in the pathophysiology of these toxins.

  • cholera toxin; Escherichia colitoxins
  • intestinal secretion
  • vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
  • enteric nervous system
  • Abbreviations used in this paper

    CT
    cholera toxin
    LT
    Escherichia coli heat labile toxin
    STa
    Escherichia heat stable toxin
    VIP
    vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
    VIPa
    vasoactive intestinal polypeptide antagonist
    5-HT
    5-hydroxytryptamine
    PES
    plasma electrolyte solution
    PEG
    polyethylene glycol
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  • Abbreviations used in this paper

    CT
    cholera toxin
    LT
    Escherichia coli heat labile toxin
    STa
    Escherichia heat stable toxin
    VIP
    vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
    VIPa
    vasoactive intestinal polypeptide antagonist
    5-HT
    5-hydroxytryptamine
    PES
    plasma electrolyte solution
    PEG
    polyethylene glycol
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