Effect of Atropine on Intestinal Absorption of Water and Chloride

Abstract

Water and Cl absorption was studied in 6 unanesthetized dogs with jejunal fistulae. Three series of expts. were conducted: (1) Control expts. in which intraluminal hydrostatic pressure was kept constant and no drug was admd. (2) Expts. in which hydrostatic pressure was controlled and 1.3 mg. atropine sulfate was injd. subcut. (3) Expts. in which a standard volume of soln. was used for each expt., and the same dose of atropine sulfate was admd. Atropine increased the rate of removal of water and Cl from the lumen of the jejunum. When the pressure was kept constant the increased absorption is partly attributable, to an increase in surface area exposed to the test soln. The accelerated uptake of water and Cl when a standard volume was used is related to an actual increase in rate of gut-to-blood transfer or to a decreased rate of intestinal secretion. In the latter series the amt. increased absorption produced by atropine was not as great as in the former.