Electrolyte transport in piglets infected with transmissible gastroenteritis virus. Stimulation by verapamil and clonidine

The effects of clonidine, an α₂-adrenergic agonist, and verapamil, a Ca²⁺ channel blocker, on Na²⁺ and Cl^- absorption were studied in stripped jejunal mucosa from control and transmissible-gastroenteritis-virus-infected piglets. All infected piglets developed severe diarrhea 18-24 hours after oral inoculation. Jejunum from infected animals, as compared with control jejunum, had decreased mucosal-to-serosal, serosal-to-mucosal, and net Na⁺ and Cl^- fluxes. Clonidine and verapamil caused a decrease in short-circuit current and stimulation of Na⁺ and Cl^- absorption in control jejunum. In infected piglets, although the jejunum exhibited severe villus atrophy, both drugs stimulated Na⁺ and Cl^- absorption and the magnitude of Na⁺ and Cl^- absorption was similar in control and transmissible-gastroenteritis-infected jejunum. In contrast, d-glucose stimulated Na⁺ absorption, and the decrease in shortcircuit current caused by verapamil and clonidine, were decreased in transmissible-gastroenteritis-infected jejunum. Such pharmacological stimulation of Na⁺ and Cl^- absorption might be useful in the management and treatment of certain viral diarrheal diseases.