EFFECTS OF SUGARS ON POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE ACROSS WALL OF SMALL INTESTINE OF RODENTS

Secretion of monoquaternary ammonium compounds by guinea pig small intestine in vivo

In anesthetized guinea pigs N-(3H)methylscopolamine (NMScop), N1-(14C)methylnicotinamide (NMN), and (14C)tetraethylammonium (TEA), administered intravenously, were secreted against a concentration gradient into the lumen of the small intestine. The concentration ratio of unmetabolized ammonium base in the intestinal lumen to that in the plasma was 4.3 and 6.5 for NMScop and NMN, respectively, 75 min after the intravenous injection of 1 nmole/g body weight of the individual compounds. The corresponding value for TEA after 180 min was 2.0. The establishment of the concentration gradient between intestinal lumen and plasma was diminished with increasing doses. An excess of NMN inhibited the uphill transport of NMScop. Since the electrical potential difference across the intestinal epithelium and a 'fluid circuit' mechanism cannot solely account for the observed accumulation of the monoquaternary ammonium compounds in the intestinal lumen, the evidence presented supports previous in vitro findings that the small intestine is capable of actively secreting organic cations.

Amino acid and sugar transport in rabbit ileum

L-Alanine and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose accumulation by mucosal strips from rabbit ileum has been investigated with particular emphasis on the interaction between Na and these transport processes. L-Alanine is rapidly accumulated by mucosal tissue and intracellular concentrations of approximately 50 mM are reached within 30 min when extracellular L-alanine concentration is 5 mM. Evidence is presented that intracellular alanine exists in an unbound, osmotically active form and that accumulation is an active transport process. In the absence of extracellular Na, the final ratio of intracellular to extracellular L-alanine does not differ significantly from unity and the rate of net uptake is markedly inhibited. Amino acid accumulation is also inhibited by 5 x 10(-5)M ouabain. 3-O-methyl-D-glucose accumulation by this preparation is similarly affected by ouabain and by incubation in a Na-free medium. The effects of amino acid accumulation, of ouabain, and of incubation in a Na-free medium on cell water content and intracellular Na and K concentrations have also been investigated. These results are discussed with reference to the two hypotheses which have been suggested to explain the interaction between Na and intestinal nonelectrolyte transport.