Effect of cholera toxin on small intestinal motor activity in the fed state.

We sought to determine the effect of cholera toxin on small intestinal transit and motor activity in the fed state. Mean transit time increased after cholera toxin, but there was no change in mean amplitude, duration, and area of contractions. In contrast, there was a reduction in the total amplitude, duration, and area of contractions, and this was due to a decrease in frequency of contractions. The reduction in the total parameters of all contractions could be accounted for by a reduction in the same parameters for propagating contractions. The parameters of nonpropagating contraction were not different after cholera toxin. Also, there was a decrease in the distance of propagation of contractions. Our findings demonstrate that during the secretory state due to cholera toxin the small intestinal motor activity works in a compensatory mode to decrease transit and allow more time for absorption.