Ileal smooth muscle motility depression on rabbit induced by toxin A from Clostridium difficile.

This study is aimed at elucidating with in vitro experiments the time course of alteration of ileal motility caused by in vivo exposure of ligated loops of ileum to toxin A (1 microg/ligated loop) of Clostridium difficile. In the sham-operated animals no significant alteration of motility was observed. In ligated loops directly injected with toxin A and in loops neighboring those administered with this toxin, a biphasic time course of motility alterations was observed. There was initially (2 h after toxin administration) an increase in spontaneous motility and in the amplitude of maximal contraction induced by potassium and acetylcholine. Afterwards there was a progressive depression of motility, which was more severe in loops directly injected. These results suggested a significant progressive depression of rabbit ileal motility induced by toxin A from C. difficile.