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Abstract
BackgroundThe glycosphingolipid sulfatide has previously been found in several mammalian tissues, but information on the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide in different organs in vivo is limited. In pancreatic beta cells, sulfatide has been shown to be involved in insulin processing and secretion in vitro. In this study, we examined the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide and its distribution to the pancreatic beta cells. This might encourage future studies of the function(s) of sulfatide in beta cell physiology in vivo. Radioactive sulfatide was given orally to mice whereafter the uptake of sulfatide in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequent delivery to the pancreas was examined. Sulfatide uptake in pancreas was also studied in vivo by i.p. administration of radioactive sulfatide in mice, and in vitro in isolated rat islets. Isolated tissue/islets were analysed by scintillation counting, autoradiography and thin-layer chromatography-ELISA.ResultsSulfatide was taken up in the gastrointestinal tract for degradation or further transport to other organs. A selective uptake of short chain and/or hydroxylated sulfatide fatty acid isoforms was observed in the small intestine. Exogenously administered sulfatide was found in pancreas after i.p, but not after oral administration. The in vitro studies in isolated rat islets support that sulfatide, independently of its fatty acid length, is endocytosed and metabolised by pancreatic islets.ConclusionOur study supports a selective uptake and/or preservation of sulfatide in the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration and with emphasises on pancreatic sulfatide uptake, i.p. administration results in sulfatide at relevant location.
Highlights
The glycosphingolipid sulfatide has previously been found in several mammalian tissues, but information on the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide in different organs in vivo is limited
Sulfatide (3'-sulfo-galactosylceramide) is a glycosphingolipid which has previously been found in substantial amounts in the nervous system, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, liver and within the insulin producing beta cells in pancreas [1,2,3]
Uptake of 3H-sulfatide administered orally to BALB/c mice Radioactive 3H-sulfatide taken up in the gastrointestinal tract was determined by scintillation counting, and radioactivity was found in isolated stomach, duodenum/jejunum, ileum and terminal ileum 1–6 hours after administration (Table 1)
Summary
The glycosphingolipid sulfatide has previously been found in several mammalian tissues, but information on the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide in different organs in vivo is limited. Sulfatide has been shown to be involved in insulin processing and secretion in vitro. We examined the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide and its distribution to the pancreatic beta cells. This might encourage future studies of the function(s) of sulfatide in beta cell physiology in vivo. Sulfatide uptake in pancreas was studied in vivo by i.p. administration of radioactive sulfatide in mice, and in vitro in isolated rat islets. In the pancreatic beta cells, saturated fatty acids without hydroxylation are major isoforms. Among the two major isoforms of sulfatide in beta cells, the short chain isoform, C16:0, is responsible for insulin crystal preservation in vitro [3]
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