Many advances have been made in the understanding of intestinal electrolyte transport from the molecular to the whole-tissue level. This chapter discusses the molecular mechanisms of intestinal epithelial ion transport processes, as well as the intra- and extracellular factors involved in their regulation, as a framework for the understanding of virus-induced gastroenteritis. Based on the present knowledge of the effects of rotavirus (RV) infection on the physiology of the intestine at different levels of organization, a working model for the pathogenesis of RV diarrhea is presented in the chapter. The understanding of the pathogenic processes of viral diarrheas may serve as the basis for a rational approach in the design of novel therapeutic strategies and the search for new antiviral drugs.
Keywords: 5HT, 5-hydroxytryptamine, serotonin; AC, adenylate cyclase; ACh, acetylcholine; AQP, water channels of the aquaporin family; CAMP, adenosine 3′-5′ cyclic monophosphate; CF, cystic fibrosis; CFTR, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, chloride channel; CaCC, Ca2+-activated chloride channel; ENS, enteric nervous system; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; GC, guanylate cyclase; GLUT2, facilitated sugar; cGMP, guanosine 3′-5′ cyclic monophosphate.
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