INFLUENCE OF OBSTRUCTIVE-JAUNDICE ON JEJUNAL-ABSORPTION OF GLUCOSE, ELECTROLYTES, AND VITAMIN-A IN RATS

Jejunal absorption of glucose, electrolytes, and vitamin A was investi gated in rats. A Tyrode solution containing glucose, sodium, and potas sium in concentrations two and four times higher than usual was infuse d through the jejunal loops of jaundiced and control rats during 40 mi n. The glucose values in the influx and effluent were not different du ring the experiment time. However, the concentrations of sodium and po tassium of the effluent decreased with concentrations twice normal, Th e osmotic pressure of the effluent was directly related to the electro lytic concentration. When the perfusate fluid was four times higher, t he differences between sham and jaundiced groups remained unchanged. T he osmotic pressure means of the jaundiced group decreased during the experimental time. The absorption of vitamin A increased during the 40 -min experiment time in the control rats. On the other hand, vitamin A concentration in the perfused lumen of the jaundiced group did not ch ange over the time. These data indicate that obstructive jaundice has little influence on glucose and electrolytes absorption, while vitamin A is impaired by this condition.