Sorbin, a peptide contained in porcine upper small intestine which induces the absorption of water and sodium in the rat duodenum.

A fraction increasing water and sodium absorption in rat duodenum was detected in the material obtained at an early stage of purification of the hitherto isolated duodenal hormones. In Wistar rats, duodenal loops were made in situ and filled with a solution containing 0.138 mM NaCl, with 14C PEG and 22Na as markers; the final content was collected after 1 h and the movements of water and Na measured. In contrast to secretin, cholecystokinin, and somatostatin, which induced duodenal secretion, and with pentagastrin, which induced duodenal absorption and stimulated acid secretion, this fraction induced duodenal absorption f Na and water without stimulating acid secretion. The fraction was obtained by chromatography of a concentrate of intestinal peptides in 0.2 M acetic acid on Sephadex G25 (fine), and its active component was found to be methanol-soluble at pH4 and insoluble at pH7.5. It was eluted from carboxymethylcellulose 22 with 0.04 M ammonium bicarbonate and gel filtration of Sephadex G50 *fine), resulting in a tenfold increase in activity. Incubation with chymotrypsin suppressed the biological activity, indicating a peptidic nature. The substance displayed biological and radioimmunological properties distinct from those of the gastrointestinal hormones. Particularly, no cross-reactivity was found with gastrin, prolactin, and angiotensin, which are known to increase intestinal absorption. It therefore seems possible that the activity described is due to a peptide that has as yet not been isolated. The name 'sorbin' is proposed for this active principle.