Sodium-dependent L-lactate uptake by bovine intestinal brush border membrane vesicles

In ruminants, intestinal digesta can contain considerable amounts of lactic acid derived from ingestion of lactic acid-containing feed and from production of lactic acid during ruminal digestion of readily fermentable carbohydrates. The aim of the present study was to investigate L-lactate transport across the bovine intestinal brush border membrane. The experiments were performed using isolated brush border membrane vesicles from the midjejunum of heifers. The results demonstrate the existence of Na+-stimulated L-lactate uptake by the brush border membrane vesicles. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate strongly inhibited Na+-dependent L-lactate transport. Acetate caused a 58% inhibition, whereas propionate and butyrate completely inhibited Na+-dependent uptake. Kinetic evaluation of L-lactate uptake in the presence or absence of extravesicular butyrate suggests a competitive inhibition by butyrate. Among the phenolic acids tested in this study only trans-cinnamic acid caused a significant reduction of L-lactate uptake, whereas cumaric acid, ferulic acid, and gallic acid only slightly reduced L-lactate transport. Thus, the L-lactate transporter appears to have some affinity for transcinnamic acid.