Cytoskeletal control of calcium absorption across the rat small intestine

Abstract

1. 1. The effect of colchicine, cytochalasin-B and procaine on calcium transport across the rat small intestine was investigated. The results obtained show the following: 2. 2. Colchicine and cytochalasin-B at different concentrations inhibited significantly ( P < 0.001) calcium accumulation in rat intestinal cells, whereas procaine at different concentrations increased significantly ( P < 0.001) calcium accumulation in the rat small intestine. 3. 3. Unidirectional influx of calcium across the rat small intestine was significantly inhibited ( P <0.01) in the presence of colchicine and cytochalasin-B in the preincubation medium. Procaine, on the other hand, caused a significant increase ( P < 0.01) in the unidirectional influx of calcium across the rat intestinal cells. 4. 4. The cell water content was not altered in the presence of the different drugs indicating that the changes in calcium transport across the rat intestinal cells are not due to alterations in the structure of the cell membrane.