Rotavirus Stimulates Release of Serotonin (5-HT) from Human Enterochromaffin Cells and Activates Brain Structures Involved in Nausea and Vomiting
Figure 8
Proposed disease mechanisms for rotavirus infection.
Panel A. Interplay between RV, NSP4, EC cells and enteric nervous dendrites. RV infects mature enterocytes evoking the release of NSP4, which together with invading virus, causes the release of 5-HT from EC cells. This, in turn, stimulates nervous dendrites located adjacent to the EC cells. Panel B. Physiological effects of 5-HT release from EC cells. It seems possible that the released 5-HT may activate both intrinsic afferents of the ENS as well as extrinsic afferent nerves. It is proposed that the stimulated intrinsic afferents constitute part of a nervous secretory reflex within ENS (left part of panel B), causing an intestinal fluid loss. Stimulation of extrinsic vagal afferents, activates NTS, a brain structure associated with nausea and vomiting (right part of panel B). The picture depicts the simplest nervous, secretory model that can be constructed on the basis of current experimental observations. Filled cells represent EC cells.