Secretory pathways in Salmonella Typhimurium- induced fluid accumulation in the porcine small intestine

Summary The involvement of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT3 receptors and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in Salmonella Typhimurium-induced fluid accumulation in the porcine small intestine was investigated. Salmonella Typhimurium (108 and 1010 cfu) and cholera toxin (CT; 20 μg) were instilled for 8 and 11 h in ligated loops in the porcine jejunum and ileum. Fluid accumulation and concentrations of Na+, K+, Cl-, 5-HT and PGE2 in the fluid accumulated in the loops were measured. The fluid accumulation was also measured when Salmonella Typhimurium (1010 cfu) and CT (20 μg) were instilled for 8 h in ligated loops in jejunum and ileum in pigs given subcutaneous injections of saline or the 5-HT3 receptor antagonist ondansetron (200 μg/kg). Salmonella Typhimurium (1010 cfu) and CT both induced fluid accumulation in jejunum and ileum after 8 and 11 h. Both treatments also induced an increase in luminal release of 5-HT and PGE2. The accumulated fluid was iso-osmotic and hyperosmotic in CT- and Salmonella Typhimurium-treated loops, respectively. Ondansetron reduced the Typhimurium-induced fluid accumulation in both jejunum and ileum by c. 40%, while it failed to reduce the response to CT. These results demonstrate that 5-HT and PGE2 are released and 5-HT3 receptors activated in the secretory pathway of Typhimurium in the porcine small intestine.