Origin and utilization of volatile fatty acids and lactate in the rabbit: influence of the faecal excretion pattern

Interrelations between bacterial metabolites (volatile fatty acids, lactate) in the gut contents and the blood in relation to the faecal excretory cycle (soft or hard faeces) were studied in anaesthetized rabbits. It appeared that the level of organic acids in the alimentary tract varied cyclicly with the faecal excretion pattern. The lactate entering the portal circulation originates from the stomach, while the volatile fatty acids (VFA) originate from the hind-gut. Net absorption from the digestive tract and hepatic utilization of fermentation acids were greater when the rabbits produced hard faeces (hard-phase) compared with soft faeces (soft-phase). Propionate and butyrate reaching the liver were almost quantitatively removed; acetate and lactate were available for extra-hepatic tissue metabolism. Whatever the excretion pattern the levels of VFA in the arterial circulation remained remarkably constant; blood lactate, however, was lower during the soft-phase. Absorption of bacterial metabolites, like their metabolism in the liver, showed a circadian rhythm parallel to the changes in the activity of the adrenal glands, i.e. the activity was enhanced during the hard-phase.