Electrolyte Transport in Rabbit Cecum: 1. Effect of RDEC-1 (Rabbit Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli) Infection.

摘要

RDEC-1(rabbit diarrheagenic Escherichia coli) is an enteroadherent rabbit pathogen that colonized the intestinal mucosa (primarily cecum) and induces characteristic attaching and effacing changes in the apical surface of absorptive cells. These changes include a vesiculation and shedding of apical microvilli, cytoskeletal disruption, and close attachment of the organisms to an effaced apical membrane with decreased surface area. RDEC organisms do not invade epithelial cells, but in areas of confluent enteroadherence, organisms may enter the intercellular spaces. This and other enteropathogenic E. coli strains cause diarrhea without tissue invasion or production of heat-labile or heat stable toxins. RDEC-1-induced diarrhea usually occurs 6-10 days after inoculation at a time of maximal mucosal attachment and the cecum is distended with fluid. Although the microbiology and histopathology of RDEC-1 infection have been well characterized, the transport response of rabbit cecum to RDEC-1 colonization and enteroadherence has not been studied. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the effect of RDEC-1 infection on rabbit cecal ion transport and to compare that with the secretory effect of dibutyryl adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (DBcAMP), a known intestinal secretagogue. Keywords: Enteropathogenic bacteria; Reprints. (KT)