Comparative study of the effect of cholera toxin and sodium deoxycholate on the paracellular permeability and on net fluid and electrolyte transfer in the rat colon.

1. The effect of deoxycholate and cholera toxin on the transfer of water, sodium, potassium and chloride and on mucosal permeability was studied in perfusion experiments on rat colon in vivo. The influence of both secretagogues on surface morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. 2. Deoxycholate turned the absorption of water, sodium and chloride to secretion and enhanced potassium secretion. Cholera toxin induced water and sodium secretion, inhibited chloride absorption and enhanced potassium secretion. 3. Deoxycholate increased reversibly the mucosal permeability as measured by the colonic clearance of 51CrEDTA and glucose, whereas cholera toxin decreased the colonic 51CrEDTA clearance. 4. Deoxycholate caused protrusion of the luminal cell surface and an increase of exfoliation of epithelial cells. The epithelial continuity was preserved. The only change induced by cholera toxin was an enhanced mucus extrusion. 5. Our results are consistent with the view that deoxycholate causes fluid secretion by filtration whereas cholera toxin enhances the secretory activity of the epithelium.