RESPONSE OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT TO INGESTED GLUCOSE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

There was no appreciable absorption of glucose from rat stomachs ligated at the cardia and pylorus. Data from approx. 1000 rats yielded the following conclusions: Absorption from the intestine increased with the concn. fed. The vol. of chyme emptied from the stomach was inversely proportional to the square root of the concn. fed. The total vol. of gastric secretion was least when a 25% glucose soln. was fed. The pH of the gastric contents increased with the concn. fed. The rates of gastric secretion, gastric emptying and intestinal absorption decreased with time. The stomach showed one and sometimes 2 phases of inhibition of motility when concentrated glucose solns. were fed. There was a close relation between the rate of emptying and the rate of absorption. The Cori absorption coefficient was not constant. Animals weighing 145 gs. or more and 70 or more days old showed the same rates of glucose absorption when 50% glucose was fed. Younger and lighter animals absorbed less glucose and had lower gastric emptying rates. Female animals usually showed lower absorption rates than [male][male] [center dot] This difference was more pronounced after a 24 than after a 48 hr. fast. Increasing the preexptl. fast from 24-48 hrs. reduced both the emptying and absorption rates.