Abstract
Summary
Calcium transport was measured in duodenum and ileum of young rats 7-9 days post 70% resection of mid-small intestine. Duodenal calcium absorption per unit weight of mucosa was depressed to half that of transected controls because of decreased flux out of the lumen. Since absorption per cm segment length of duodenum was also depressed in resected as compared with transected animals, the mucosal hyperplasia secondary to resection did not compensate for decreased absorption per unit weight of mucosa. Ileum of resected animals showed net calcium secretion in comparison with net absorption in transected controls. Possible causes for depression of calcium absorption include abnormal vitamin D metabolism with decreased enterohepatic cycling of polar vitamin D metabolites or immaturity of rapidly proliferating mucosal cells.
We thank Fred Kirchner, Radiation Research Laboratory, University of Iowa, for advice regarding the intestinal resections.
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