Effect of temperature on the rates of digestion, amino acid absorption and assimilation in the alligator

Abstract

1. 1. Small alligators were fed lean meat (50 g/kg of body weight). The rates of digestion, amino acid absorption, and assimilation were determined at 25°, 28° and 31°C. 2. 2. At 25°C, digestion was slow and incomplete. 3. 3. At 28°C, digestion proceeded about half as fast as at 31°C. 4. 4. In all experiments, there was an immediate rise in plasma alanine and glycine and a delayed and prolonged rise in plasma glutamine. 5. 5. At all temperatures, the rate of absorption and amino acid disappearance seemed to match the rate of digestion, suggesting that the rates of all were controlled by a common factor. 6. 6. It was postulated that the common factor was blood flow and that the reason the rate of digestion etc. was affected by temperature was that it affected the rate of blood flow.