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Mechanistic bases for differences in passive absorption
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Mechanistic bases for differences in passive absorption

S.R. Lavin, T.J. McWhorter and W.H. Karasov
Journal of Experimental Biology, Vol.210(15), pp.2754-2764
2007
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.006114
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Abstract

Increasing evidence indicates that small birds have more extensive non-mediated, paracellular intestinal absorption of hydrosoluble compounds than do mammals, although studies have not employed uniform methodologies or demonstrated differences at the tissue level. The mechanistic bases behind apparent species differences are poorly understood. We show using uniform methodology at the whole-animal level that intact, unanesthetized pigeons had significantly higher absorption of L-arabinose and L-rhamnose, two water-soluble compounds used to measure paracellular absorption, than similarly sized laboratory rats. The species differences were also evident using perfused isolated loops of duodenum, showing that the difference in paracellular absorption occurred at the tissue level, even when D-glucose absorption rates (transcellular+paracellular) were similar between the two species. The greater absorption of these probes in pigeons could not be explained by mediated uptake of the putative paracellular probes, or by increased nominal surface area, increased villus area or increased number of tight junctions. Rats and pigeons had comparable absorption of larger probes, which is consistent with similar effective pore size of the tight junction between enterocytes. The elimination of these mechanistic explanations might suggest that pigeon intestine has relatively higher paracellular solvent drag, but pigeon duodenal segments did not have higher net water absorption than rat duodenal segments. Whatever the exact mechanism(s), the paracellular pathway of both species limits substantial (>5%) fractional absorption to molecules smaller than about 4.8 Å (Mr ca. 350), and permeability to smaller molecules at the tissue level is higher in pigeons than in rats.

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
International collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.249 Digestive System Disorders
1.249.1631 Intestinal Transport
Web Of Science research areas
Biology
Zoology
ESI research areas
Biology & Biochemistry
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