ABSORPTION OF SODIUM AND SHORT-CHAIN FATTY-ACIDS ACROSS RUMINAL EPITHELIUM OF FALLOW DEER (DAMA-DAMA L.) - COMPARISON TO SHEEP

The study was designed to evaluate unidirectional sodium and propionat e fluxes across short-circuited, stripped rumen mucosa of fallow deer using the Ussing chamber technique, Thr results were compared with flu x rates of sheep. Previous studies have shown that rumen epithelium of domesticated ruminants like sheep express a high transport capacity f or both SCFA and sodium. Unidirectional propionate fluxes (Jms = 25.71 (n) over tilde 3.66 nmolh-1*cm-2; Jsm = 29,91 (n) over tilde 4.38 nm olh-1*cm-2) were very low as compared to data of rumen epithelium of sheep incubated under similar conditions. Extent of sodium ms flux (7. 35 (n) over tilde 0.79 aemolh-1*cm-2) was similar to sodium ms flux o f sheep rumen epithelium. As in sheep lumen epithelium. both mucosal a ddition of amiloride (1.0 mM) and SCFA replacement de pressed ms flux of sodium indicating presence of an apical Na+/H+ exchanger.