Chapter 4, Problem 22E

Summary Introduction

To write:

In cholera disease, the bacterial toxins excite some epithelial cells of the small intestine to oversecrete solutes into the lumen. This results in the transport of water across the intestinal epithelium. There is a resulting clinical sign due to this altered transport.

Introduction:

Cholera is an infection in the small intestine by some strains of the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Cholera toxin stimulates the adenylate cyclase enzyme in the intestinal mucosa cells. It leads to the increased intracellular cAMP levels and the secretion of H₂O, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^-, and HCO³- into the small intestine lumen.