Calcium/calcimimetic via calcium-sensing receptor ameliorates cholera toxin-induced secretory diarrhea in mice

Figure 1 Cholera toxin induces diarrhea but does not alter calcium-sensing receptor in the intestine. A: Representative images of fluid accumulation in the intestine; B: Representative images of fluid accumulation in the cecum; C: Quantifications of fluid accumulation in the intestine; D: Representative western blot for intestinal calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR); E: Quantification of intestinal CaSR western blot. Mice were intragastrically gavaged with vehicle or cholera toxin at the indicated doses to induce diarrhea/intestinal fluid secretion. Three and half-hours later, animals were killed, intestines removed, and fluid and CaSR protein quantitated. The CaSR protein signals were normalized by heat shock protein 90 as an internal control to correct protein loading differences. Shown are means ± standard error. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs no cholera toxin control. The blue color noted in intestines was Evans Blue dye that was used to monitor intestinal motility (data not shown; will be reported separately). CTX: Cholera toxin; HSP90: Heat shock protein 90.