[Influence of Saccharomyces boulardii on jejunal secretion in rats induced by cholera toxin].

The effects of a suspension of Saccharomyces boulardii cells on water and sodium secretion induced by cholera toxin was measured in male Wistar rats weighing 220-260 g, using the isolated jejunal loop technique. Concentrations per ml of 3.1 X 10(9), 2.1 X 10(9) and 0.7 X 10(9) viable cells and 3.1 X 10(9) cells killed by irradiation or heating respectively were tested. At this last concentration, the supernatant obtained after centrifugation of the suspension of living cells or of cells killed by irradiation was also tested. Four 10 cm-long loops, the first one beginning at the angle of Treitz, were isolated: the first two loops with and without S. boulardii, the other two (previously incubated with cholera toxin for 3 h) with and without the cells. Each loop contained 1.5 ml of test solution or suspension. S. boulardii living cells had no effect on water and sodium basal intestinal transport but significantly reduced water and sodium secretion induced by cholera toxin within 20 min. Irradiation and heating did not abolish this antisecretory effect while the supernatant obtained after centrifugation of living or irradiated cell suspensions had no inhibitory effect.