Intestinal lymph flow and lymphatic transport of protein during fat absorption.

A substantial increase in intestinal lymph flow and protein content follows fat ingestion. The effect of intraduodenal feeding of fats was studied in the rat to define the mechanisms responsible. The change appears to be largely independent of the route of fat absorption, that is, whether by the portal venous route or, alternatively, by the lymphatic route. It must be presumed that it is related to events unconnected with the route taken by absorbed fat leaving the intestinal cell.