Effect of enzymatic treatment on calcium absorption by small intestine: a comparative study between rat and rabbit transport mechanisms.

Calcium absorption by the small intestine of rat and rabbit reached steady state after 60 min of incubation with intracellular to extracellular ratio of 2.0. Trypsin and neuraminidase significantly inhibited (P less than 0.05) calcium accumulation in rat small intestine. These enzymes showed no significant effect (P greater than 0.05) on calcium transport across rabbit small intestine. The inhibitory action of trypsin and neuraminidase on calcium accumulation by the rat small intestine does not involve the influx of calcium into the intestinal cells.