Role of the enteric nervous system in the fluid and electrolyte secretion of rotavirus diarrhea

The mechanism underlying the intestinal fluid loss in rotavirus diarrhea, w hich often afflicts children in developing countries, is not known. One hyp othesis is that the rotavirus evokes intestinal fluid and electrolyte secre tion by activation of the nervous system in the intestinal wall, the enteri c nervous system (ENS). Four different drugs that inhibit ENS functions wer e used to obtain experimental evidence for this hypothesis in mice in vitro and in vivo, The involvement of the ENS in rotavirus diarrhea indicates po tential sites of action for drugs in the treatment of the disease.