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

Fadia R. Homaidan, Alfonso Torres, Mark Donowitz, Geoffrey W.G. Sharp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)895-901
Number of pages7
JournalGastroenterology
Volume101
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1991
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology

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