Effect of Escherichia coli on fluid transport across canine small bowel. Mechanism and time-course with enterotoxin and whole bacterial cells.

An Escherichia coli strain isolated from a patient with severe cholera-like diarrhea elaborates a partly heat-labile enterotoxin shown to cause prompt adenyl cyclase stimulation and isotonic fluid secretion by canine jejunum. Both responses disappear upon removal of the enterotoxin. The duration of action of a submaximal dose of this E.

Effect of spironolactone on stool electrolyte losses during human cholera.

This study demonstrated that endogenous aldosterone, as determined by its transient competitive block by spironolactone, caused significant sodium and chloride retention during naturally acquired cholera. This beneficial effect of the hormone is accompanied, however, by a deleterious depletion of potassium. In addition, it was found that stool rate significantly altered the sodium and potassium concentrations in cholera stool despite minimal or absent aldosterone activity.