RADIO-INDUCED COLONIC TRANSPORT DYSFUNCTI ONS IN THE RAT

The symptom commonly associated with whole body irradiation is diarrho ea, a still quite obscure phenomenon, which leads to decreased chance of cure of irradiated people. The aim of this study was to provide evi dence for dysfunction of intestinal water and electrolyte transport re gulation by the enteric nervous system after exposure to ionising radi ation. This study shows decreased capacity of enteric nervous system t o influence colonic transport 3 days after irradiation, correlated to a diminished response to a neurotransmitter: serotonin. Radio-induced diarrhea may result from epithelial structural injury but also from im paired regulatory processes of intestinal transport.