Glucose absorption in the intestine of albino rats.

Abstract

The ability to absorb substances from the external environment is one of the features that make animals different from inanimate objects. In mammalian species, this quality is mainly the role of the small intestine. The process of absorption mainly takes place in the small intestine. This study was carried out to investigate the rate of glucose absorption in the intestine of albino rats and the effect of calcium and ouabain on the rate of glucose absorption. Albino rats weighing between 200 and 250 g were used for this experiment. Guts were isolated and cut to segments. Test solution was injected into each of the isolated segments, which were then assayed for glucose. The result revealed that the rate of glucose absorption in the intestine of albino rats were found to be 3.02×10-1 g/min at the mucosa-to-serosa surface and 3.00×10-1 g/min at the serosa-to-mucosa surface, indicating that glucose was absorbed at both surfaces and that the rate of glucose absorption was higher in the mucosa-to-serosa direction than in the opposite direction. The rate of intestinal glucose absorption at different regions of the intestine and the effect of varying concentrations of calcium on the rate of glucose absorption revealed that glucose absorption was highest at the duodenum and lowest at the ileum. Ouabain blocked the rate of absorption of glucose in the intestine of albino rats.