Intestinal maturation: effect of growth retardation on L-valine absorption.
The absorption of L-valine was studied in segments of the jejunum and ileum using a one pass in situ perfusion technique in 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-wk-old healthy control and in growth-retarded rats (suckled with mothers fed a protein-deficient diet and fed the same diet after weaning). In the jejunum of control rats, rate of absorption of L-valine declined from about 270 to 80 mumol/h per g mucosal weight, between 2 and 4 wk of life. At each age period, in both segments, rates of absorption of L-valine based on weight of the segments were significantly greater in the growth-retarded than in the control rats. However, based on length of the intestinal segments rates of absorption were similar in corresponding segments of the control and growth-retarded rats. These findings indicated that although the intestine in the growth-retarded rats was atrophic compared to that in control rats, the capability to absorb L-valine had been preserved, by increasing the rate of absorption per unit weight of intestine.
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000254:growth & development; D009929:Organ Size; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014633:Valine / Q000378:metabolism*; D014886:Weaning
D014633:Valine