Ascorbic acid uptake in guinea pig intestinal mucosa

Cellular accumulation of ascorbic acid was investigated in vitro in distal intestinal mucosa of guinea pig. With 14C-ascorbic acid present at 8 microM/L in the bathing media, tissue/media (T/M) concentration ratios of at least 5 were routinely achieved. Recently absorbed ascorbic acid appeared to be free in solution in the cellular fluid in that it diffused from tissue exposed to poisons with a disappearance half-time of approximately 10 minutes. Ascorbic acid uptake was highly dependent on the presence of sodium in the bathing media; total Tris substitution resulted in a 97% decrease in uptake. Also, metabolically depleted tissue did not accumulate ascorbic acid against a concentration gradient. Uptake of 14C-ascorbic acid from a bathing solution concentration of 8 microM/L was reduced 67% in the presence of 0.8 mM/L nonlabeled ascorbic acid. Recently absorbed 14C-ascorbic acid moved more rapidly back into the lumen when the luminal solution contained nonlabeled ascorbic acid (5 mM) than when it contained mannitol (5 mM). This demonstration of counter transport substantiates a carrier mechanism in the brush border.