[Postnatal formation of the mechanisms of carbohydrate hydrolysis and transport in the rat small intestine]

Abstract

Using accumulating preparations of the mucose, studies have been made on the rate of accumulation of the glucose from 11 mM solutions of glucose, maltose and starch in proximal, intermediate and distal parts of the small intestine of 2--13-week rats. It was demonstrated that in 2-week animals, rather intensive transmembrane transport of "free" glucose takes place in the proximal and medial parts of the small intestine, the transport of glucose in the form of maltose or starch being absent. At later stages of postnatal life, especially to the onset of definitive nutrition, together with the induction of alpha-glucosidase systems, gamma-amylase and maltase transporting mechanisms are formed which provide for the adaptation of the organism to qualitatively new feeding conditions.