title: Intestinal D-glucose and L-alanine transport in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix).
abstract: The mechanisms involved in D-glucose and amino acid transport in the intestine of birds are still not clear. In chickens, D-glucose and amino acid absorption occurs via carrier-mediated transport, but in wild birds a passive paracellular mechanism seems to be the predominant pathway. The purpose of this work was to determine the existence of carrier-mediated sodium cotransport of D-glucose and L-alanine in the small intestine of Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix), a granivorous bird. Intestinal transport was determined by changes in the short-circuit current (Isc), proportional to ion transmembrane flux, in the middle segment of the intestine of Japanese quail with a Ussing chamber. D-Glucose produced an increase of the Isc, and this effect was reverted by phloridzin, indicating the presence of a D-glucose transport mediated by the sodium/glucose cotranspoter 1. Addition of L-alanine also produced an increase of the Isc. We concluded that there is carrier-mediated cotransport of D-glucose and L-alanine with sodium in the small intestine of the Japanese quail.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Gastrointestinal Physiology, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: García-Amado
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: del Castillo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eglee Perez
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Domínguez-Bello
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D003370:Coturnix / Q000378:metabolism*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010695:Phlorhizin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009004:Monosaccharide Transport Proteins; D010695:Phlorhizin; D005947:Glucose; D000409:Alanine