Effects of experimental diabetes on intestinal strontium absorption in the rat

Control and streptozotocin diabetic rats were studied at 5 and 12 days after induction of diabetes. Strontium absorption was measured by in situ perfusion of duodenum and ileum. Duodenal absorptive capacity (absorption per unit length) and absorptive specific activity (absorption per gram of dry weight mucosa) were depressed. Depression was present both at 5 days, when mucosal growth is similar in controls and diabetics, and at 12 days, when mucosal growth is 50% greater in diabetics. Effects of diabetes on ileal absorption were minimal in comparison with effects on duodenum. This depression of duodenal strontium absorption in the diabetic rat is analogous to effects of diabetes on calcium absorption and may be mediated by abnormal vitamin D metabolism.