title: Expression of monocarboxylate transporters I and IV and the ancillary protein CD147 in the intestinal tract of healthy horses and ponies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the expression of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) 1 and 4 and the ancillary protein CD147 in the intestinal tract of healthy equids and determine the cellular location of CD147 in the intestinal epithelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 healthy horses and ponies slaughtered for meat production or euthanized for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal tract disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The entire gastrointestinal tract was removed from each equid within 45 minutes after slaughter or euthanasia. Tissue samples were obtained from the antimesenteric side of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, middle part of the cecum, sternal flexure of the ventral colon, pelvic flexure, sternal flexure of the dorsal colon, and descending colon (small colon). Expressions of MCT1, MCT4, and the ancillary protein CD147 were examined in tissue samples from each of the 8 intestinal locations by means of quantitative PCR assay, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of MCT1 was most abundant in the cecum and colonic sites, whereas expression of MCT4 was predominantly in the proximal section of the intestine (small intestinal sites and cecum). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that MCT1 and CD147 were present in the membranes of enterocytes (in crypts and villi).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anatomic distribution of MCT1 and MCT4 in the equine intestinal tract determined in this study together with the previous knowledge of the sites of substrate absorption indicated that MCT1 might predominantly contribute to the uptake of short-chain fatty acids in the large intestine and MCT4 might predominantly contribute to the uptake of lactate in the small intestine.
authors: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Anna K
authors: AK
authors: Mykkänen
authors: Mikael
authors: M
authors: Niku
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Ilves
authors: Ninna M
authors: NM
authors: Koho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051926:Basigin / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D027501:Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters; D051926:Basigin