Responses of glucose absorption and fructose absorption to prostaglandin E2 in intestinal loops of sheep.

This study was designed to clarify whether the anti-absorptive action of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on glucose absorption was specific or non-specific to the glucose absorptive process, by investigating its effect on fructose absorption which has a different mechanism from that of glucose absorption. The effect of PGE2 on mucus secretion was also evaluated as one of the non-specific inhibiting factors. PGE2 significantly stimulated the secretion of water and mucus, and the absorptions of glucose and fructose were inhibited 49.3 per cent and 31.1 per cent respectively at the highest dose. However, fructose absorption was not inhibited by lower doses of PGE2, although the secretion of fluid and mucus was stimulated significantly and glucose absorption was inhibited significantly at the lower doses.