Use of the paracellular way for the intestinal absorption of sugars

Passive absorption of D-Galactose (in the presence of 0.5 mM phlorizin), 2-deoxy-D-glucose and D-Mannitol by rat jejunum has been measured in vivo by perfusion of an intestinal segment with recirculation, along successive absorption periods of 5 or 10 min duration. In the range of 1 to 40 mM concentrations, the three solutes were absorbed at a very similar rate that varied as a lineal function of the concentrations in the perfusion solution. Absorption of 1 mM solute was not modified by the presence of 40 mM glucose or galactose. Passive absorption kinetics suggests processes of simple diffusion or solvent drag. The use of paracellular way for the passive absorption is supported by the fact that triaminopyrimidine (TAP) and protamine, which decrease the permeability through the tight junctions, also inhibit the absorption, with similar characteristics for both actions: TAP inhibition (53%) is very rapid and can be easily reversed, while that of protamine (30%) requires some time of previous exposure, lasts longer and can be reversed by heparin. The same analogy is shown by two actions that enhance the paracellular permeability: theophylline increases (30%) the passive absorption with lasting effect, while luminal hypertony enhances absorption transitorily. The passive absorption of the assayed solutes could be estimated to take place by the paracellular way in at least 50% and probably 70% or even more. The measure of net fluid fluxes reveals that solute fluxes must be prevailingly explained by simple diffusion, as the solvent drag can only play a very minor role.