Changes in Gastro-Intestinal Motility Induced by Cholera Toxin and Experimental Osmotic Diarrhoea in Dogs: Effects of Treatment with an Argillaceous Compound

Abstract

Effects on digestive motility of two agents which induce diarrhoea were investigated in conscious dogs chronically fitted with strain-gauge transducers sutured to the serosa of the antrum, the jejunum and the proximal colon and with a catheter inserted into the duodenum. Effects were tested before, during and after treatment with an argillaceous compound, smectite, at a dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 6 days. Smectite treatment alone induced only minor changes in gastric motility with a decrease in the motility index and an increase in the duration of the post-prandial disruption of gastric migrating motor complexes (MMCs). Intraduodenal administration of cholera toxin (200 μg) before smectite treatment disrupted MMCs on the stomach and the jejunum for more than 10 h without affecting colonic motility. These effects were still seen when cholera toxin was administered on the 3rd day of smectite treatment but were partially antagonized on the 6th day of treatment. Intraduodenal infusion of a hypertonic mannitol solution (900 mosm/l, 6 ml/min for 1 h) transiently disrupted gastric and jejunal MMCs, stimulating colonic motility for more than 6 h and inducing abundant diarrhoea 45–60 min after the beginning of the infusion. When the mannitol infusion was repeated on the 3rd and 6th days of smectite, gastric and jejunal motor disturbances persisted while colonic hyperactivity was abolished and onset of diarrhoea was delayed by more than 8 h. We thus conclude that smectite treatment has an antidiarrhoeal effect, partially antagonizing digestive motor disturbances induced by two agents used to provoke experimental diarrhoea.

Effects of controlled ingestion of kaolinite (5%) on food intake, gut morphology and in vitro motility in rats

“…The mechanism of action of clay might be to adsorb toxins and bacteria and to modify intestinal mucus that reinforces the mucosal barrier [1]. This effect may be due to changes in the chemical nature of mucopolysaccharides by modifying their rheological properties [4].…”

Gastroprotectants in small animal veterinary practice – a review of the evidence. Part 1: cyto‐protective drugs

“…), Seabuckthorn oil (Dogra et al . ), smectite (Fioramonti & Droy‐Lefaix ), and alginate (Shiraishi et al . ).…”

“…Fioramonti & Droy‐Lefaix () showed that the increased gastric, jejunal and colonic motility observed after oral administration of the cholera toxin or mannitol could be partially reversed if smectite was administered from 3 days before the experiment. This effect on gastro‐intestinal motility could explain its anti‐diarrhoeal effects.…”

Anti-Diarrheal Effects of Diosmectite in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children

“…Changes in the absorptive properties of the intestine in the presence of diosmectite may also alter fluid and electrolyte secretion and absorption, which may also contribute to the anti-diarrheal effects. [37] While it is tempting to deduce from these data that diosmectite acts as a physical barrier to proinflammatory mechanisms, there are data showing that diosmectite can provide anti-diarrheal activity several days after administration (by which time it would have been eliminated from the intestinal lumen), suggesting that there is also likely to be a reinforcing effect of the natural defense mechanisms contributing to the overall anti-inflammatory effect. [9] A significant effect of diosmectite on stool output was also recently demonstrated as a primary outcome in two placebocontrolled trials in young children with acute diarrhea.…”

“…[37] When cholera toxin was also administered, diosmectite administered 3 days later appeared to restore the cholera toxin-induced disruption of GI cyclical activity. Mannitol infusion on its own disrupted gastric and jejunal cyclical migrating motor complexes, which stimulated colonic motility activity and resulted in diarrhea 45-60 minutes after the start of the infusion.…”