Effect of dietary fat content on the site of fat absorption in hamster small intestine in vitro

Abstract

1. 1. Everted sacs of small intestines from hamsters on a diet containing 2 or 20% fat were incubated during 1 h at 37° in a micellar solution of 2 mM [1- 14C]oleic, acid (specific activity 4 μC/mmole), 4 mM sodium glycodeoxycholate and 14 mM glucose in Krebs-Henseleit phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). Incorporation of [1- 14C]oleic acid into neutral fat was determined. 2. 2. The capacity of the intestinal wall in the different portions of the small intestine to incorporate oleic acid into neutral fat was compared after diets with low or high fat content were given for at least 3 weeks. In the first 60% of the small intestine no appreciable differences were found, but a considerable increase was noted in the remaining part of the small intestine from hamsters fed the high fat content diet. 3. 3. These findings suggest an adaptation of the ileum to a more efficient absorption when a large dietary load of fat is given. This mechanism provides an additional explanation for the high capacity of the gut to absorb fat.