Carbohydrate absorption in the young of protein-deficient rats.

The absorption of 3-O-methylglucose (TMG) and of lactose has been studied in the young of female rats fed a protein-deficient diet during pregnancy. Postnatally, these young were suckled by stock diet-fed dams. Intestines of newborn, 4-day and 12-day old pups were infused in situ with 5% TMG or 3.5% lactose. The mean amount retained per enterocyte was measured as well as the mean amount absorbed from the lumen and transferred from the enterocyte. Absorption of lactose was reduced in the enterocytes of newborn prenatally protein-deprived (PPD) young but not postnatally, while TMG absorption was normal at birth and 12 days but reduced at 4 days. The amount of carbohydrates absorbed in total or per unit intestinal weight seemed to vary with changes in the number of absorptive cells. It is suggested that reduced absorption in PPD pups is primarily related to the smaller number of absorptive cells in these young. There is a greater increase in numbers of cells and in absorption per cell between birth and 12 days in PPD young than in controls, indicating that the effect on the intestine of prenatal protein deprived young is at least partially reversible.