Intestinal transport of hypotonic oral rehydration solutions in the rat: Regional difference of water and electrolyte absorption

Abstract

Key wordsoral rehydration solutions, passive water transport, sodium-chloride coupled transport, small intestine, colon.Acute diarrhea, particularly in infants, is a major cause of morbidity across the world. 1 The role of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) in acute diarrhea is to provide water and electrolytes via the gastrointestinal tract as quickly as possible.In the present study, two hypotonic ORS, an isotonic ion solution and distilled water were evaluated by an in vivo perfusion technique with the whole gut of anesthetized rats. 2,3The aim of the present study was to evaluate the regional difference of net water and electrolytes absorption in the gut and further to elucidate the intestinal water and electrolytes absorption mechanisms.