A revision of current data and views on membrane hydrolysis and transport in the mammalian small intestine based on a comparison of techniques of chronic and acute experiments: Experimental re-investigation and critical review

Literature data and the results of our investigations using both generally accepted and original perfusion techniques of the isolated loop of the rat small intestine in in vivo experiments are reviewed. Significant differences in the functioning of the small intestine under conditions of acute and chronic experiments are revealed. It has been established that in chronic experiments as compared to acute ones: (a) the absorption of glucose, galactose, fructose and glycine is 2-5 times higher; (b) Kt as well as Jmax values of the transport of these nutrients differ considerably; (c) Na+-independent mechanism of glucose and glycine transport predominates; (d) higher rates of membrane hydrolysis and more effective interactions between enzyme and transport systems of the enterocyte brush border membranes are observed; (e) functional characteristics of the small intestine affected by various experimental factors are more stable. The conclusion is made that it is necessary to revise current views of the scale and regularities of digestive-transport processes in the small intestine under physiological conditions. The importance of the suggested approaches for general and comparative physiology and biochemistry is discussed.