Effect of Shiga toxin on NaCl transport in rat distal colon

Background: Shiga toxin causes net fluid secretion in rabbit jejunum by sel ectively targeting, and inhibiting protein synthesis in, absorptive villous cells. The effect of Shiga toxin on the colon, where it is presumably prod uced, is not known. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Shiga toxin on the rat distal colon. Methods: Net absorption of water and N a was determined by in vivo perfusion of closed loops of rat colon pre-expo sed to Shiga toxin or saline. Unidirectional and net fluxes of Na-22 and Cl -36 were measured in vitro under voltage-clamp conditions across rat distal colon mucosa pre-exposed to Shiga toxin. Shiga toxin binding to sections o f rat distal colon was localized by immunohistochemistry. Protein synthesis was measured in surface and crypt colonocytes with H-3-leucine incorporati on. Results: In the in vivo perfusion studies net absorption of Na and wate r was increased in Shiga toxin-treated colon compared with controls (P < 0. 01). In the studies carried out in vitro, J(net)(Na) and J(net)(Cl) across Shiga toxin-treated mucosa were found to be significantly higher than in co ntrol tissue (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Net absorption of Na o r Cl did not increase further in the presence of 25 mM butyrate, indicating the absence of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)-linked NaCl absorption in Sh iga toxin-treated colon. Moreover, Shiga toxin-treated colon failed to resp ond to theophylline, which induced secretion in the normal colon. Immunohis tochemistry showed Shiga toxin binding to crypt cells but not to surface ce lls in the distal colon. Shiga toxin inhibited protein synthesis (by 27.3%) in crypt cells but not in surface cells (P < 0.05). Conclusions: An unexpe cted increase in water and NaCl absorption was noted in Shiga toxin-treated rat distal colon, which appears to result from selective effects of the to xin on secretory crypt cells.