[Water and electrolytes intestinal secretion (author's transl)].

This paper reviews methods used for studying intestinal secretion in man and animals, fasting and post prandial intestinal secretion, as well as that induced by bacterial enterotoxins, hormonal stimuli, some endocrine tumours and various intraluminary agents; finally the possible mechanisms and sites of intestinal secretion are discussed. That the intestine secretes fluid under physiological conditions is not proven but seems very likely. Several mechanisms seem to be involved in the production of fluid by the intestine. The adenylate-cyclase-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMPc) system is currently thought to play a major role in endotoxins and some hormone-induced secretions. The site of intestinal secretion remains a matter of discussion: both crypts and villi seem to participate in the secretory process.