Abstract
Because dipeptides may be faster absorbed than constituent amino acids in vivo, we compared effects of L-alanine (ala) and alanyl-alanine (ala-ala) on jejunal Na transport in piglet transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE), an acute viral enteritis resembling human rotavirus enteritis. In Ussing chambers, control pig jejunum responded to ala (20mH) with an increase in net Na absorption (p<.05) over basal period; this response did not differ from that to ala-ala (10mM). At peak of diarrhea, Na transport didn't respond to ala (20mM) or to ala-ala (10mH).
Hydrolysis of added dipeptide appeared complete by 10 min in control Ussing chambers (mucosal side) & 86% complete in TGE chambers. TGE tissue was characterized by crypt cell-type epithelium with ↓dlsaccharidases (sucrase 2.5±0.5 vs 53.1±6.5 U/mg) & ↑thymidine kinase activity (72.2±7.2 vs 9.4±1.0 U/mg) (p<.001). We conclude that a) ala-ala stimulates jejunal Na absorption no better than its constituent amino acid in viral diarrhea and b) control jejunal response to ala-ala seems due to efficient release of alanine at brush border surface. These findings are potentially important to formulation of an optimal oral rehydration solution for infant diarrhea.
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Rhoads, M., Macleod, J., Katona, E. et al. 720 RESPONSE OF Na ABSORPTION TO DIPEPTIDE IN ACUTE VIRAL A DIARRHEA. Pediatr Res 19, 230 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00750
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00750
