Proline transport across the intestinal microvillus membrane may be regulated by membrane physical properties

The influence of estradiol and diet on small intestinal glucose transport in ovariectomized rats

Although gender differences exist for intestinal absorption of nutrients and drugs, the possible role estradiol may play in modulating nutrient transport has not been established. Therefore, small intestine glucose transport was measured 1 week after administering estradiol to ovariectomized rats fed diets high in carbohydrate (C) or protein (P). Rats treated with estradiol ate 21% less (P<0.05) and lost body mass (7%; P<0.05) but did not have smaller intestines. Administration of estradiol increased rates of glucose transport, but only when the rats were fed the C diet. These findings indicate that estradiol causes a disconnect between food intake and the dimensions and nutrient transport capacities of the small intestine. Furthermore, the responses to estradiol are influenced by diet composition, are not of the same magnitude for rats and dogs, and can be predicted to affect systemic availability of nutrients and drugs.

Postnatal development of nutrient transport in the intestine of dogs

OBJECTIVE

To measure nutrient absorption by the intestine during postnatal development of dogs.

ANIMAL

110 Beagles ranging from neonatal to adult dogs.

PROCEDURE

Rates of absorption for sugars (glucose, galactose, and fructose), amino acids (aspartate, leucine, lysine, methionine, and proline), a dipeptide (glycyl-sarcosine), and linoleic acid by the proximal, mid, and distal regions of the small intestine were measured as functions of age and concentration (kinetics) by use of intact tissues and brush-border membrane vesicles. Absorption of octanoic acid by the proximal portion of the colon was measured in intact tissues.

RESULTS

Rates of carrier-mediated transport by intact tissues decreased from birth to adulthood for aldohexoses and most amino acids but not for fructose and aspartate. Kinetics and characteristics of absorption suggest that there were changes in the densities, types, and proportions of various carriers for sugars and amino acids. Saturable absorption of linoleic acid in the small intestine and octanoic acid in the proximal portion of the colon increased after weaning.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Rates of absorption decreased between birth and adulthood for most nutrients. However, because of intestinal growth, absorption capacities of the entire small intestine remained constant for leucine and proline and increased for glucose, galactose, fructose, aspartate, and proline but were less than predicted from the increase in body weight. Although postnatal ontogeny of nutrient absorption was consistent with changes in the composition of the natural and commercial diets of growing dogs, rates of amino acid and peptide absorption were lower than expected.

Opioid receptors on guinea-pig intestinal crypt epithelial cells

1. Opioid peptides promote net intestinal absorption via two mechanisms: stimulation of Na+ and Cl- absorption and inhibition of Cl- secretion. Although these transport changes are predominantly mediated by submucosal neurones, it is currently unclear whether opioid peptides can regulate enterocyte function directly. We therefore tested the hypothesis that enterocytes have specific opioid receptors. 2. Villus and crypt jejunal epithelial cells were isolated by the distended sac method from anaesthetized guinea-pigs. Flow cytometry was used to resolve enterocytes from other cell types and to determine whether binding of a fluorescently labelled opioid antagonist, naltrexone-FITC, could be prevented by unlabelled mu- and delta-opioid receptor agonists. A population of crypt enterocytes (approximately 21%) exhibited high-affinity naltrexone-FITC binding to both mu- and delta-type binding sites that was stereoselective and sodium dependent. Villus enterocytes did not exhibit any of these characteristics. 3. Basal cAMP production was elevated in both villus and crypt cells treated with IBMX (3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine). Villus cells did not respond to 100 nM vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), nor were they affected by opioid peptides. In contrast, 100 nM VIP significantly increased cAMP production in crypt epithelial cells, which was significantly reduced by both morphiceptin and D-Ser2-Leu-Enk-Thr. This opioid-mediated effect was stereoselective and blocked by the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone. 4. These experiments suggest that enterocytes isolated from the crypt epithelium of guineapigs have both mu- and delta-types of opioid receptors. It is possible that these cells participate in opioid-mediated regulation of intestinal secretion.

Chloride-dependent amino acid transport in the small intestine: occurrence and significance

The unidirectional influx of amino acids, D-glucose and ions across the brush-border membrane of the small intestine of different species has been measured in vitro with emphasis on characterization of topographic and species differences and on chloride dependence. The regional differences in transport along the small intestine are outlined and shown to be caused by variation in transport capacity, while the apparent affinity constants are unchanged. Rabbit small intestine is unique by exhibiting maximal rates of transport in the distal ileum and a very steep decline in the oral direction from where tissues are normally harvested for preparation of brush-border membrane vesicles. Transport in the guinea pig and rat is much more constant throughout the small intestine. Since the capacity of nutrient carriers is regulated by their substrates it is possible that bacterial breakdown of peptides and proteins in rabbit distal ileum increases the concentration of amino acids leading to an upregulation of the carriers. Chloride dependence is a characteristics of the carrier rather than the transported amino acid, and is used to improve the classification of amino acid carriers in rabbit small intestine. In this species the imino acid carrier, the beta-amino acid carrier, and the beta-alanine carrier, which should be renamed the B0,+ carrier, are chloride-dependent. The steady-state mucosal uptake of classical substrates for these carriers in biopsies from the human duodenum is also chloride-dependent. The carrier of beta-amino acids emerges as ubiquitous and chloride-dependent, and evidence of cotransport with both sodium and chloride is reviewed. A sodium:chloride:2-methyl-aminoisobutyric acid coupling stoichiometry of approx. 2:1:1 is suggested by ion activation studies. Direct measurements of coupled ion fluxes in rabbit distal ileum confirm that sodium, chloride and 2-methyl-aminoisobutyric acid are cotransported on the imino acid carrier with an identical influx stoichiometry. Control experiments and reference to the literature on the electrophysiology of the small intestine exclude alterations of the membrane potential as a feasible explanation of the chloride dependence. Thus, it is concluded that chloride is cotransported with both sodium and 2-methyl-aminoisobutyric acid across the brush-border membrane of rabbit distal ileum.

Oleic acid inhibition of Na+/D-glucose transport in isolated renal brush-border membranes: role of lipid physical parameters and trans Na(+)-inhibition

Inhibition of Na+/D-glucose transport by oleic acid was investigated in renal brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV). Lipid physical parameters were determined by spectrofluorometry. cis-Unsaturated C16-C22 long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) as oleic acid reduced nonzero limiting anisotropy r infinity with DPH and 12-AS as probes and decreased rotational correlation time phi of 12-AS. At 8 s and 15 s Na+/D-glucose transport was competitively inhibited. A positive correlation existed between decrease in r infinity (acyl chain order) or decrease in rotational correlation time phi (= increase in 'fluidity') and inhibition of Na+/D-glucose transport. Except elaidic acid trans unsaturated and saturated LCFA had no effect on fluorescence anisotropy and Na+/D-glucose transport. Per cent transport inhibition was unaffected by 0 voltage clamping and by FCCP. Ki for trans Na(+)-inhibition of D-glucose transport was 29 mmol/l. Na(+)-transport was stimulated by oleic acid, exceeding the Ki value for trans Na+ inhibition.

CONCLUSION

oleic acid inhibits Na+/D-glucose transport by a decrease in lipid acyl chain order and an increase in 'fluidity', by trans Na(+)-inhibition and presumably by a third unknown mechanism.