Electrolyte transport in piglets infected with transmissible gastroenteritis virus(): Stimulation by verapamil and clonidine

The effects of clonidine, an α(2)-adrenergic agonist, and verapamil, a Ca(2+) channel blocker, on Na(2+) and Cl(−) absorption were studied in stripped jejunal mucosa from control and transmissible-gastroenteritis-virus-infected piglets. All infected piglets developed severe diarrhea 18–24 hours after oral inoculation. Jejunum from infected animals, as compared with control jejunum, had decreased mucosal-to-serosal, serosal-to-mucosal, and net Na(+) and Cl(−) fluxes. Clonidine and verapamil caused a decrease in short-circuit current and stimulation of Na(+) and Cl(−) absorption in control jejunum. In infected piglets, although the jejunum exhibited severe villus atrophy, both drugs stimulated Na(+) and Cl(−) absorption and the magnitude of Na(+) and Cl(−) absorption was similar in control and transmissible-gastroenteritis-infected jejunum. In contrast, d-glucose stimulated Na(+) absorption, and the decrease in shortcircuit current caused by verapamil and clonidine, were decreased in transmissible-gastroenteritis-infected jejunum. Such pharmacological stimulation of Na(+) and Cl(−) absorption might be useful in the management and treatment of certain viral diarrheal diseases.