Role of unstirred layer in intestinal absorption of phenylalanine in vivo

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1979 Jan 5;550(1):120-30. doi: 10.1016/0005-2736(79)90120-2.

Abstract

The appearance rate of L- and D-phenylalanine in the venous blood of rat jejunal loops in vivo is increased up to 60% if the intraluminal solution is mixed more efficiently by the simultaneous perfusion of air. The effect decreases as the luminal concentration is increased to 100 mmol/l. Thus, the apparent Michaelis constants are by 50% lower in the case of the reduced unstirred layer (26 to 17 for L- and 9 to 6 mmol/l for D-phenylalanine). The enhancement of the absorption and the reduction of the Michaelis constants can be attributed to the reduction of the effective unstirred layer thickness by about 400--500 micrometer.

MeSH terms

  • Air
  • Animals
  • Intestinal Absorption*
  • Jejunum / metabolism
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Models, Biological
  • Perfusion / methods
  • Phenylalanine / blood
  • Phenylalanine / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Solutions
  • Phenylalanine