Content of carbohydrates in enteral medium of various parts of digestive tract of the reindeer rangifer tarandus during winter

Abstract

It has been established that cellulose concentration in dry matter of manifold chymus in female reindeers Rangifer tarandus is increased in comparison with rumen and reticulum, while the reducing sugar concentration is decreased. There is oppositely directed change of the carbohydrate concentration at transit from manifold to the medial part of jejunum—a decrease of cellulose and an increase of sugars. In the distal part of small intestine as well as in large intestine, the cellulose content increases again, whereas the sugar level decreases. The maximal rise of the content of aldoses and ketoses in chymus of the reindeer jejunum proximal part indicates that the high assimilation of reindeer moss polysaccharides is achieved not only due to adaptive alimentary possibilities of rumen, but also owing to intensive hydrolysis of exogenous and mostly endogenous polysaccharides of the secondary microbial origin in small intestine. Comparison of the total amount of reducing sugars in the reindeer digestive tract with the total amount of glucose in blood allows suggesting that alongside with gluconeogenesis the absorption of monosugars from digestive tract plays an essential role in maintenance of the high glycemic level that is especially necessary during winter season to provide the elevated energy demands of the animal organism.