AJP - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, Vol 250, Issue 1 1-G8, Copyright © 1986 by American Physiological Society
Intestinal ion transport and diarrheal disease
J. D. Fondacaro
The physiology of intestinal electrolyte transport is currently an area of
intense research interest. Also, reports regularly appear that define
possible roles of various endocrine, paracrine, and neurohumoral substances
in regulating intestinal ion and water flux. A vast body of knowledge has
appeared recently that focuses on the action of specific intracellular
mediators or second messengers and certain biochemical events that are
thought to be involved in this transport process. This area of research has
drawn the attention of the clinical investigator as well as the basic
scientist because of the implications of these findings to the
understanding of secretory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, in
particular diarrheal disease. The purpose of this review is to focus on
recent findings reported in three major areas: the physiology of intestinal
electrolyte transport and its regulation; the pathophysiology of secretory
diarrhea; and current thoughts and practices in the therapeutic approach to
the disease.
