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diarrhea
A "red-hot" bacterial infection of the intestinal tract irritates the intestinal cells and interferes with digestion. Such a condition is often accompanied by diarrhea, which causes loss of body water. On the basis of what you have learned about osmotic water flows, explain why diarrhea may occur.
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Infectious bacteria generally produce powerful enterotoxins, which cause a series of changes in ion transport in intestinal enterocytes. This leads to a net efflux of chloride ions into the gut lumen. Sodium ions follow to maintain electroneutrality and water moves into the lumen to maintain isotonicity by osmosis. (The chloride ions are produced during the production of an enzyme called adenyl cyclase in the mucosal cells of the intestinal epithelium. This enzyme catalyses increased formation of cyclic AMP, which through a series of steps, results in the phosphorylation of the transmembrane chloride channel protein with the opening of the chloride channel).
The colon is capable of reabsorbing up to about 5 litres of water daily. However, during gut bacterial infections, the total volume of fluid excreted by osmosis from the ileum may exceed this limit resulting in diarrhoea.
In general, any process which either interferes with reabsorption of fluid from the colon or increases fluid secretion into the gut, results in diarrhoea. Ion-transport mechanisms are in place in a healthy gut to prevent an imbalance. These work in conjunction with various hormones such as vasopressin to maintain a healthy balance.
Infectious bacteria generally produce powerful enterotoxins, which cause a series of changes in ion transport in intestinal enterocytes. This leads to a net efflux of chloride ions into the gut lumen. Sodium ions follow to maintain electroneutrality and water moves into the lumen to maintain isotonicity by osmosis. (The chloride ions are produced during the production of an enzyme called adenyl cyclase in the mucosal cells of the intestinal epithelium. This enzyme catalyses increased formation of cyclic AMP, which through a series of steps, results in the phosphorylation of the transmembrane chloride channel protein with the opening of the chloride channel).
The colon is capable of reabsorbing up to about 5 litres of water daily. However, during gut bacterial infections, the total volume of fluid excreted by osmosis from the ileum may exceed this limit resulting in diarrhoea.
In general, any process which either interferes with reabsorption of fluid from the colon or increases fluid secretion into the gut, results in diarrhoea. Ion-transport mechanisms are in place in a healthy gut to prevent an imbalance. These work in conjunction with various hormones such as vasopressin to maintain a healthy balance.
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