Differential and interactive effects of calcium channel blockers and cholesterol content of the diet on jejunal uptake of lipids in rabbits

Ion channels and transporters regulate nutrient absorption in health and disease

Ion channels and transporters are ubiquitously expressed on cell membrane, which involve in a plethora of physiological process such as contraction, neurotransmission, secretion and so on. Ion channels and transporters is of great importance to maintaining membrane potential homeostasis, which is essential to absorption of nutrients in gastrointestinal tract. Most of nutrients are electrogenic and require ion channels and transporters to absorb. This review summarizes the latest research on the role of ion channels and transporters in regulating nutrient uptake such as K+ channels, Ca2+ channels and ion exchangers. Revealing the mechanism of ion channels and transporters associated with nutrient uptake will be helpful to provide new methods to diagnosis and find potential targets for diseases like diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, etc. Even though some of study still remain ambiguous and in early stage, we believe that ion channels and transporters will be novel therapeutic targets in the future.

Calcium channel blockers modify jejunal uptake of D-galactose in rabbits

Calcium channel blockers modify the intestinal uptake of lipids. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that two different types of calcium channel blockers influence the uptake of D-galactose, a sugar absorbed by the sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT1) in the intestinal brush border membrane. Nisoldipine (1 mg/kg/day) or verapamil (4 mg/kg/day) were given by mouth to New Zealand white rabbits for three weeks, and then the rates of uptake of varying concentrations (2-64 mM) of galactose were examined in an in vitro preparation of jejunum using the incorporation of 14C-labeled substrate into intact tissue segments. The maximal transport capacities (Vmax) for D-galactose were increased in animals given nisoldipine or verapamil, as compared to controls. The value of the apparent Michaelis constant Km* for D-galactose was higher with nisoldipine group and lower with verapamil, than in controls. The apparent passive permeability (Pd*) of D-galactose was estimated from the uptake of L-glucose: Pd* was lower with nisoldipine and higher with verapamil, as compared to controls. The effect of these drugs on sugar uptake is not due to differences in the animals' food intake, body weight gain, or mucosal surface area. Thus, the two different classes of calcium channel blockers, the dihydropyridine nisoldipine and the phenylalkylamine verapamil, have different effects on the K(m)* and Pd*, but not on the Vmax of D-galactose uptake.