Experimental study in the rabbit of the effect of cholestyramine in the treatment of infectious diarrhea caused by cholera

: Cholestyramine is a non-absorbable anion exchange resin. Cholestyramine treatment of new born's infectious diarrhea has been shown to be effective. Cholera toxin induces, in the adult rabbit ileal loop, histological, water electrolytes and enzymatic modifications similar to that observed in patients with acute infectious diarrhea. Using this experimental model, we try to exhibit the reduction of the pathologic secretory action of the toxin on intestinal loop, after contact with the resin. A prolonged contact of the cholera toxin with the resin does not abolish completely the activation of adenyl-cyclase induced by the toxin alone. However significant reduction of goblet cell degranulation, and of the secretory effect allowed to reduce the loss of water and electrolytes.