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The effects of 1 day of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats on glucose transport across the brush border membrane (BBM) and basolateral membrane (BLM) prepared from jejunal enterocytes has been studied. The effects on glucose transport of treatment of diabetic animals with insulin to reduce to normal the elevated blood glucose levels has also been assessed. The maximum capacity (Vmax) for SGLT1-mediated glucose uptake by BBM vesicles was unaffected by diabetes or insulin treatment of diabetic rats. In contrast, Vmax for BLM glucose uptake was increased by 206% in diabetes, a response that could not be reversed by treatment with insulin. Western blotting of BBM for SGLT1 protein revealed a single band with a molecular weight of 73 kDa and the intensity of this band was unaffected by diabetes. However, an increased level of GLUT2 was noted in diabetic BLM and this was not a consequence of changes in glycaemic or insulin status. Diabetes hyperpolarised the BBM, implying an increased driving force for Na(+)-sugar co-transport but insulin treatment only partially reversed this enhanced potential difference. Benzamil (2 microns), an epithelial Na+ channel blocker, hyperpolarised the BBM of control but not diabetic enterocytes, implying that a reduced Na+ permeability was responsible for the diabetic hyperpolarisation. It was concluded that in early diabetes, before the onset of hyperphagia, a greater driving force for Na(+)-dependent BBM sugar transport together with increased GLUT2 activity at the BLM promotes sugar movement across the enterocyte. Possible triggers for the transport responses are discussed.

The effects of chronic (72 h) glucagon treatment on active nutrient uptake by the rat jejunum have been determined using in-vitro electrophysiological and autoradiographic methods together with an in-vivo technique which measures absorption across a cannulated segment of upper jejunum. Glucagon caused a marked increase in the potential difference across the brush border membrane from a mean value of -47.6 mV under control conditions to -54.2 mV following treatment with the hormone (P less than 0.025). A similar hyperpolarization was also noted after 24 h glucagon administration. The magnitude of the depolarization induced by the addition of D-galactose (4 mmol/l) to the mucosal fluid was increased from 6.0 to 14.3 mV following 72 h glucagon treatment (P less than 0.05). Phloridzin (0.1 mmol/l) abolished the galactose-induced depolarization in both control and treated animals. Glucagon induced significant increases of 49.9 and 61.0% respectively for glucose and galactose absorption measured under in-vivo conditions. Autoradiographic studies revealed that following glucagon treatment, L-valine uptake occurred earlier during enterocyte migration along the villus. This resulted in an enhanced accumulation of the amino acid at the villus tip. We conclude that glucagon increases nutrient transport across the small intestine. The raised electrical gradient for Na+- coupled nutrient entry into the enterocyte is likely to be a major factor in the transport response.

The effects of chronic diabetes mellitus of 4-5 weeks duration on the potential difference across the brush border membrane of rat small intestine (Vm) and on Na+-dependent uptake of D-glucose by jejunal brush border vesicles have been studied. Diabetes increased Vm in the jejunum from a mean value of -47.2 mV in control tissue to -57.4 mV in diabetic tissue (P less than 0.001) but was without effect on ileal Vm. Measurements of Vm during ion-substitution experiments revealed that the conductance of Na+ of the jejunal brush border was reduced by diabetes, whilst K+ and Cl- permeabilities were unaltered. Uptake studies using brush border vesicles and an Na+-electrochemical gradient showed that diabetes caused a 56% increase in the initial rate of uptake of D-glucose but was without effect on the peak to equilibrium ratio. Taken together, data from these two studies suggest that the lower Na+ permeability of the brush border in diabetes enhances the electrical and chemical driving force for active Na+-dependent uptake of glucose by reducing glucose-independent movement of Na+ across this membrane. Finally, the possible humoral factors involved in this response to diabetes are discussed.