Influence of dietary electrolytes on lysine and arginine absorption in chick intestine

The intestinal absorption of lysine and arginine in the chick was characterized using an in situ-ligated intestinal segment technique, and the influence of dietary electrolytes on their absorption was examined. Each amino acid, labeled with 14C and provided at a concentration of .5 mM, was introduced into the lumen of the small intestine of young chicks. Absorption was defined as disappearance of label from the lumen after 4 min. Lysine absorption was greater than arginine absorption in the duodenum and in the middle and distal small intestine. The Jmax values for absorption of lysine and arginine were 315.0 nmol/min and 112.0 nmol/min, whereas the respective Kt values were 2.3 mM and 2.0 mM. Maximal transport of lysine and arginine occurred at pH 6.0. Lysine absorption was depressed (P less than .05) at pH 5.0 and pH 8.0, whereas arginine absorption was depressed (P less than .05) only at pH 8.0. High dietary chloride (.89%) produced higher (P less than .05) lysine absorption than a high dietary level of potassium (1.81%). No effect (P greater than .05) of dietary electrolytes on arginine absorption was detected. These results indicate that the dietary balance of monovalent electrolytes, and, hence, acid-base balance, may influence the intestinal absorption of lysine.