Paracellular absorption in laboratory mice: Molecule size-dependent but low capacity.

Water-soluble nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine via transcellular and paracellular processes. The capacity for paracellular absorption seems lower in nonfliers than in fliers, although that conclusion rests largely on a comparison of relatively larger nonflying mammals (>155g) and relatively smaller flying birds (<155g). We report on paracellular absorption in laboratory mice, the smallest nonflying mammal species studied to date. Using a standard pharmacokinetic technique, we measured the extent of absorption (fractional absorption=f) of inert carbohydrate probes: L-arabinose (M(r)=150.13Da) and cellobiose (342.3) that are absorbed exclusively by the paracellular route, and 3-O-methyl D-glucose (3OMD-glucose) (M(r)=194) absorbed both paracellularly and transcellularly. f was measured accurately in urine collection trials of 5-10h duration. Absorption of 3OMD-glucose by mice was essentially complete (f=0.95±0.07) and much higher than that for L-arabinose (f=0.21±0.02), indicating that in mice, like other nonflying mammals, >80% of glucose is absorbed by mediated process(es) rather than the passive, paracellular route. As in all other vertebrates, absorption of cellobiose (f=0.13±0.02) was even lower than that for L-arabinose, suggesting an equivalent molecular size cut-off for flying and nonflying animals and thus a comparable effective TJ aperture. An important ecological implication is that smaller water-soluble plant secondary metabolites that have been shown to be absorbed by the paracellular path in cell culture, such as phenolics and alkaloids, might be absorbed in substantial amounts by bats and small birds relative to nonflying mammals such as mice.

The capacity for paracellular absorption in the insectivorous bat Tadarida brasiliensis.

Water-soluble nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine via transcellular and paracellular processes. The capacity for paracellular absorption seems greater in fliers than in nonfliers, although that conclusion rests mainly on a comparison of flying birds and nonflying mammals because only two frugivorous bat species have been studied. Furthermore, the bats studied so far were relatively large (>85 g, compared with most bat species which are <20 g) and were not insectivores (like about 70 % of bat species). We studied the small (11 g) insectivorous bat Tadarida brasiliensis and tested the prediction that the capacity for paracellular absorption would be as high as in the other bat and avian species studied so far, well above that in terrestrial, nonflying mammals. Using standard pharmacokinetic technique, we measured the extent of absorption (fractional absorption = f) of inert carbohydrate probes: L-arabinose (MM = 150.13) absorbed exclusively by paracellular route and 3OMD-glucose (MM = 194) absorbed both paracellularly and transcellularly. As predicted, the capacity of paracellular absorption in this insectivorous bat was high (L-arabinose f = 1.03 ± 0.14) as in other frugivorous bats and small birds. Absorption of 3OMD-glucose was also complete (f = 1.09 ± 0.17), but >80 % was accounted for by paracellular absorption. We conclude that passive paracellular absorption of molecules of the size of amino acids and glucose is extensive in this bat and, generally in bats, significantly higher than that in nonflying mammals, although the exact extent can be somewhat lower or higher depending on molecule size, polarity and charge.

Intestinal perfusion indicates high reliance on paracellular nutrient absorption in an insectivorous bat Tadarida brasiliensis.

Flying vertebrates have been hypothesized to have a high capacity for paracellular absorption of nutrients. This could be due to high permeability of the intestines to nutrient-sized molecules (i.e., in the size range of amino acids and glucose, MW 75-180 Da). We performed intestinal luminal perfusions of an insectivorous bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. Using radio-labeled molecules, we measured the uptake of two nutrients absorbed by paracellular and transporter-mediated mechanisms (L-proline, MW 115 Da, and D-glucose, MW 180 Da) and two carbohydrates that have no mediated transport (L-arabinose, MW 150 Da, and lactulose, MW 342 Da). Absorption of lactulose (0.61±0.06 nmol min(-1) cm(-1)) was significantly lower than that of the smaller arabinose (1.09±0.04 nmol min(-1) cm(-1)). Glucose absorption was significantly lower than that of proline at both nutrient concentrations (10mM and 75 mM). Using the absorption of arabinose to estimate the portion of proline absorption that is paracellular, we calculated that 25.1±3.0% to 66.2±7.8% of proline absorption is not transporter-mediated (varying proline from 1 mM to 75 mM). These results confirm our predictions that 1) paracellular absorption is molecule size selective, 2) absorption of proline would be greater than glucose absorption in an insectivore, and 3) paracellular absorption represents a large fraction of total nutrient absorption in bats.

Paracellular absorption: a bat breaks the mammal paradigm.

Bats tend to have less intestinal tissue than comparably sized nonflying mammals. The corresponding reduction in intestinal volume and hence mass of digesta carried is advantageous because the costs of flight increase with load carried and because take-off and maneuverability are diminished at heavier masses. Water soluble compounds, such as glucose and amino acids, are absorbed in the small intestine mainly via two pathways, the transporter-mediated transcellular and the passive, paracellular pathways. Using the microchiropteran bat Artibeus literatus (mean mass 80.6+/-3.7 g), we tested the predictions that absorption of water-soluble compounds that are not actively transported would be extensive as a compensatory mechanism for relatively less intestinal tissue, and would decline with increasing molecular mass in accord with sieve-like paracellular absorption. Using a standard pharmacokinetic technique, we fed, or injected intraperitoneally the metabolically inert carbohydrates L-rhamnose (molecular mass = 164 Da) and cellobiose (molecular mass = 342 Da) which are absorbed only by paracellular transport, and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3OMD-glucose) which is absorbed via both mediated (active) and paracellular transport. As predicted, the bioavailability of paracellular probes declined with increasing molecular mass (rhamnose, 90+/-11%; cellobiose, 10+/-3%, n = 8) and was significantly higher in bats than has been reported for laboratory rats and other mammals. In addition, absorption of 3OMD-glucose was high (96+/-11%). We estimated that the bats rely on passive, paracellular absorption for more than 70% of their total glucose absorption, much more than in non-flying mammals. Although possibly compensating for less intestinal tissue, a high intestinal permeability that permits passive absorption might be less selective than a carrier-mediated system for nutrient absorption and might permit toxins to be absorbed from plant and animal material in the intestinal lumen.

Lipodistrofia parcial adquirida. Resistencia insulínica, actividad lipasa hepática y partículas LDL pequeñas y densas / Acquired partial lipodystrophy. Insulin resistance, hepatic lipase activity and small and dense LDL particles

La lipodistrofia parcial (LDP) es una alteración poco frecuente en la cual se observa pérdida simétrica de tejidos adiposo subcutáneo que afecta la parte superior o inferior del cuerpo. Ocasionalmente la LD se produce solamente en las extremidades. En todos los casos se manifiesta con acantosis nigricans (AN), resistencia insulínica y alteraciones del metabolismo de lípidos e hidratos de carbono. Sedescribe el caso de una mujer de 49 años portadora de LDP adquirida con la pérdida de tejido adiposo en cara y parte superior del cuerpo. No se observa obesidad en la parte inferior del cuerpo. La paciente presentó adelgazamiento facial a los 8 años, AN a los 11 años y diabetes gestacional durante el cuarto embarazo a los 33 años. No tiene antecedentes familiares. Actualmente se detectan hiperglucemia severas y marcada resistencia insulínica. Presenta hiperlipoproteinemia tipo IV (OMS), C-HDL y Apo A1 disminuídos con C-LDL bajo pero con alta proporción de partículas LDL pequeñas y densas. Los ácidos grasos no esterificados (AGNE) estan elevados. Las actividades de lipoprotein lipasa (LPL) y lipasa hepática (LH) se hallan en el límite inferior y elevada respectivamente. La fracción C3 del complemento está disminuída. No se hallaron mutaciones en los condones 170, 809 y 972 del receptor IRS-1, ni en el condon 276 del gen beta2-adrenérgico. (Au)

Lipodistrofia parcial adquirida. Resistencia insulínica, actividad lipasa hepática y partículas LDL pequeñas y densas / Acquired partial lipodystrophy. Insulin resistance, hepatic lipase activity and small and dense LDL particles

La lipodistrofia parcial (LDP) es una alteración poco frecuente en la cual se observa pérdida simétrica de tejidos adiposo subcutáneo que afecta la parte superior o inferior del cuerpo. Ocasionalmente la LD se produce solamente en las extremidades. En todos los casos se manifiesta con acantosis nigricans (AN), resistencia insulínica y alteraciones del metabolismo de lípidos e hidratos de carbono. Sedescribe el caso de una mujer de 49 años portadora de LDP adquirida con la pérdida de tejido adiposo en cara y parte superior del cuerpo. No se observa obesidad en la parte inferior del cuerpo. La paciente presentó adelgazamiento facial a los 8 años, AN a los 11 años y diabetes gestacional durante el cuarto embarazo a los 33 años. No tiene antecedentes familiares. Actualmente se detectan hiperglucemia severas y marcada resistencia insulínica. Presenta hiperlipoproteinemia tipo IV (OMS), C-HDL y Apo A1 disminuídos con C-LDL bajo pero con alta proporción de partículas LDL pequeñas y densas. Los ácidos grasos no esterificados (AGNE) estan elevados. Las actividades de lipoprotein lipasa (LPL) y lipasa hepática (LH) se hallan en el límite inferior y elevada respectivamente. La fracción C3 del complemento está disminuída. No se hallaron mutaciones en los condones 170, 809 y 972 del receptor IRS-1, ni en el condon 276 del gen beta2-adrenérgico.