Selective absorption of stereo-isomers of amino-acids from loops of the small intestine of the rat

Abstract

Solns. of the following DL-amino acids, alanine, phenylalanine, methionine, histidine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, nor-leucine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alpha-aminoadipic acid, alpha-aminopimelic acid and lysine,were placed in intestinal loops of rats. After 30 min., the rats were killed, the loops removed and the contents analyzed for the L and D acids with L-amino acid oxidase or bacterial decarboxylases, and D-amino acid oxidase. The L-isomer disappeared more quickly than the D-form and the disappearance was much slower in the dead rats. The authors conclude there is an active absorption of amino acids.