In situ intestinal absorption of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid in guinea pigs.

The intestinal absorption efficacy of 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G), which has been recently synthesized and characterized as a stable ascorbate (AsA), was determined in guinea pigs by the perfusion technique. Perfusion of AA-2G in isotonic phosphate buffer to the small intestine resulted in a decrease of AA-2G accompanied by an increase of AsA in the perfusate. The results showed that intact AA-2G was not detected in the plasma of the portal vein of guinea pigs at 2 h after perfusion. The disappearance of AA-2G from perfusate was completely inhibited by the addition of castanospermine, a specific alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, or by carbohydrates such as maltose. These results indicate that ascorbic acid released from AA-2G by alpha-glucosidase on the brush border membrane is effectively taken up across the intestinal ascorbate transport channels, into a serosal site, whereas AA-2G permeation was poor via the passive transport system.