[Resorption and incorporation of radioactive-labeled amino acids during the administration of various protein carriers in rats. 2. Uptake of radioactivity by tissues of the gastrointestinal tract after intragastric administration of 14C-L-U-leucine and 3H-glycine]

[Secretion of radioactively labeled amino acids into the digestive tract. 2. 14C labeling and amount of 14C leucine in the intestinal contents after subcutaneous injection of 14C leucine in rats]

Experimental rats received a subcutaneous injection of 14C of varying activity. The rats were then killed in groups within a period of from 2 mins to 30 mins after the injection. A certain amount of 14C activity was detected in the intestinal contents as early as 2 mins after the injection, both as free 14C leucine and in the TCE soluble portion of the intestinal contents (TCE=trichloroacetic acid). A comparison of the degree of labelling in the TCE soluble and the TCE precipitable fractions of the intestinal contents showed that the most likely way for free 14C leucine to get into the lumen of the intestine is via the pancreatic juice while that for protein-bound 14C leucine is through the proteins in the pancreatic gland. The degree of labelling in both fractions decreased very steeply from the first to the third third of the intestine. This may be caused either by absorption of the secreted 14C leucine or may be brought about by a delay in food passage through the intestine.

[Secretion of radioactively labeled amino acids into the digestive tract. I. Report 14C labeling of the pancreas after subcutaneous injection of 14C-leucine in rats]

4 different groups of experimental animals (rats) were injected 14C leucine at 4 different levels of specific 14C activity. Groups A and B received a dosis of leucine corresponding to the daily leucine requirements of the animals. The specific 14C activity was high in group A and low in group B. Groups C and D were injected a leucine dosis at a level of 10% from the groups A and B. the specific 14C activity being again high (group C) or low (group D). The results showed that a true evalution of the experiment could lnly be achieved if the values were related to the true rate of labeling (DPM/mg N or specific 14C leucine activity). The "percentage of the injected dosis" proved to be unsuitable for the analysis of the experimental results when taken as reference frame. The levels of specific 14leucine activity in free plasma leucine were in the same order as the specific activities of the injected solutions (C greater than A greater than D greater than B) whereas the order of specific 14C leucine activities in the TCE-soluble fraction of the pancreatic gland (TCE-trichloroacetic acid) was found to be A greater than C greater than B greater than D. This was due to the higher rate of 14C-leucine transfer into the protein fraction in the animals of group C and D receiving a normal supply of leucine. In these groups an equilibrium in specific 14C-leucine activity between the TCE-soluble and TCE-precipitable fractions was achieved 20-30 mins after injection. A relatively high degree of labelling of the pancreatic protein was noted as early as about 2 minutes after the injection of 14C-leucine. This indicates that in studies on amino acid absorption the secretion of those amino acids that are first absorbed and then resecreted via the pancreatic gland should always be taken into account.