title: Development of L-glutamine-stimulated electroneutral sodium absorption in piglet jejunum.
abstract: Glutamine is the primary metabolic fuel of the small intestine. To determine the effects of glutamine on intestinal electrolyte transport, piglet (3 days to 3 wk old) jejunum was bathed in Ussing chambers in a buffer containing 10 mM serosal glucose, and the effects of different concentrations of mucosal L-glutamine and D-glucose on short-circuit current and transmucosal Na+ and Cl- transport were measured. Resting jejunum secreted Na+ and Cl- in an electrogenic manner. In contrast to mucosal D-glucose (30 mM), which promoted electrogenic Na+ absorption (1.8 mueq.cm-2.h-1), mucosal L-glutamine (30 mM) stimulated both Na+ (2.7 mueq.cm-2.h-1) and Cl- (2.2 mueq.cm-2.h-1) absorption. This NaCl-absorptive jejunal response depended on the presence of both Na+ and Cl-, did not appear until animals were greater than 7 days of age, and was not observed with glucose, phenylalanine, or mannitol. Serosal, as well as mucosal, glutamine (30 mM) promoted electroneutral NaCl absorption. A small electrogenic Na(+)-absorptive response to L-glutamine was also observed. The effect of L-glutamine on jejunal NaCl transport resembles that of other metabolic fuels on colonic transport; its mechanism remains to be determined. We conclude that glutamine promotes electroneutral salt absorption in the small intestine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27607.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rhoads
authors.forename: E O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Keku
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Lecce
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002712:Chlorides / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D005973:Glutamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D008353:Mannitol / Q000494:pharmacology; D024510:Muscle Development; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D005973:Glutamine; D008353:Mannitol; D010649:Phenylalanine; D012964:Sodium