ABSORPTION OF SIMPLE NUTRIENTS FROM THE IN-VIVO NEURALLY ISOLATED CANINE JEJUNUM AND ILEUM

Background. The effects of intestinal transplantation on enteric absor ptive function are not well understood. Our aim was to determine the e ffects of in situ isolation of the jejunoileum, a large animal model o f jejunoileal autotransplantation, on absorption of simple nutrients f rom the jejunum and ileum separately. Methods. Four groups of dogs wer e prepared with modified Thiry-Vella loops: group 1, neurally intact j ejunum; group 2, neurally isolated jejunum; group 3, neurally intact i leum; and group 4, neurally isolated ileum. Intestinal loops were perf used with five different isosmolar solutions of NaCl alone, 30 mmol/L glucose, 2.5 mmol/L glycine, 2.5 mmol/L phenylalanine, and 5 mmol/L ol eic acid at 1 to 2 weeks and 8 to 9 weeks after operation. Results. Ne t absorption of water and electrolytes, glucose, glycine, phenylalanin e, and oleic acid were not different statistically between neurally in tact and neurally isolated intestinal loops at either time point. Ilea l loops absorbed more than jejunal loops. Conclusions. Absorption of s imple nutrients from the canine jejunum and ileum is not altered by th is model of intestinal autotransplantation. These observations suggest that the extrinsic denervation that accompanies intestinal transplant ation does not affect the transport systems for glucose, glycine, phen ylalanine, or oleic acid.