Effect of Aging on the Absorption of Small Peptides in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of aging on the absorption of small peptides in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Three kinds of dipeptides, glycyl-sarcosine (Gly-Sar), Trp-His, and captopril (a dipeptidomimetic drug), a Gly-Sar-Sar tripeptide, a Gly-Sar-Sar-Sar tetrapeptide, and a Gly-Sar-Sar-Sar-Sar pentapeptide were administered at doses of 10 mg/kg each to 8- and 40-week-old SHRs. The peptides were all detected in their intact forms in the blood. There was a significantly promoted absorption of di/tripeptides in aged SHRs compared with young SHRs. In contrast, the absorption of tetra/pentapeptides was not affected by aging. PepT1 expression in the mid-jejunum was significantly increased in 40-week-old SHRs compared with 8-week-old SHRs, whereas aging did not alter the expression of claudin-1, a tight junction related protein. Thus, the present results suggest that SHR aging may enhance the absorption of di/tripeptides through the enhanced PepT1 transport route, although oligopeptides may be absorbed in an age-independent manner.