Mesenteric venous blood flow and the net absorption of glucose in sheep fed dried grass or ground maize-based diets

Abstract

SummaryA surgical procedure is described for placing a catheter in the mesenteric vein of sheep, such that blood draining the reticulo-rumen is not sampled. This catheter, together withothers in the mesenteric vein and carotid artery, was used to determine mesenteric blood flow and the net absorption of glucose in five sheep fed both dried grass and ground maize-based diets. The mean (± S.E.) mesenteric blood flow rates were 33 ±0·9 and 37 ± 5·7ml/min/kg live weight when fed the dried grass and maize-based diets respectively. These flow rates, together with the small venousarterial differences in plasma volatile fattyacid concentrations observed, indicated that the mesenteric catheter did not sample blood draining the reticulo-rumen in the conscious, fed animal. Further confirmation was provided by subsequent post-mortem examinations of the catheters. When fed the dried-grass diet, a significant net absorption of glucose could not be detected. However, when fed the maize-based diet a net glucose absorption of 19·3 ± 0·75 mmol/h was observed.