The adrenergic influence on intestinal secretion in cholera

The intestinal secretion in cholera is evoked via the action of the cholera toxin on the intestinal mucosa. We have recently presented evidence for the involvement of the enteric nervous system in the induction of this type of secretion (Cassuto et al. 1981). We have also shown that electrical or reflex activation of the sympathetic fibres to the small intestine (Brunsson et al. 1979, Sjovall et al. 1982) increases net fluid absorption in the normal small intestine via an α-adrenergic effect. These two observations led us to investigate the possible effect of adrenergic receptor stimulation on cholera secretion.