The roles of bile salts in the uptake of beta-carotene and retinol by rat everted gut sacs.

The effects of bile salts, Tween 20 and hexadecyltrimethylammonium-bromide on the uptake of beta-[3H]carotene and [3H]retinol by rat-everted gut sacs were studied in vitro under conditions simulating those present in the intestinal lumen during lipid absorption. 2. Micellar solutions significantly enhanced uptake over emulsions. Maximum uptake occurred at the critical micellar concentration of the bile salts mixture. At higher detergent concentrations beta-carotene uptake declined sharply; retinol absorption remained high. 3. In beta-carotene absorption bile salts functioned not only as micellar solubilizers but also may have been required for interaction with the cell membrane or as a transport carrier. In retinol uptake their primary function appeared only to be micellar solubilization. Both uptake and efflux of substrates were enhanced in bile salt micellar solutions compared to the other detergents. 4. Beta-carotene cleavage and conversion to retinyl esters occurred only in bile salts solutions. Retinol esterification was seen with all detergents. These effects increased as the tri/dihydroxy bile salts ratio was increased. 5. Beta-carotene uptake appeared to be reversible and passive at low concentrations. Retinol uptake was reversible, 7-30 times more rapid, and partially inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol at higher concentrations. An energy-requiring step may have been rate limiting.