In vitro Inhibition of Intestinal Fluid and Electrolyte Transfer by a Non-Beta Islet Cell Tumor

Abstract

Summary Clinical observations in a patient with a non-Beta islet cell pancreatic adenocarcinoma demonstrated excessive fecal losses of fluid and electrolytes and excessive volumes of fluid from the distal ileum during continuous gastric aspiration. Intestinal transit time was normal. In vitro studies demonstrated the capacity of a distilled-water extract of an hepatic metastasis to inhibit the net mucosal-to-serosal transfer of fluid, sodium and chloride across everted gut sacs from the distal portion of the hamster small intestine. No effect of the tumor extract on in vitro intestinal motility was observed, These results suggest that the patient's diarrhea resulted from the tumor or its products inhibiting the net absorption of fluid and electrolytes in the patient's small intestine.