Effect of hypophysectomy on calcium transport by rat duodenum

To examine the effect of hypophysectomy on intestinal calcium absorption, studies were performed on immature rats 7, 14, and 21 days after hypophysectomy. Duodenal calcium transport was measured in vitro utilizing everted gut sacs and in vivo by a luminal perfusion technique. Hypophysectomy produced no differences in the ability of everted gut sacs to transport calcium. Similarly, when in vivo transport data were expressed on the basis of intestinal length, no significant differences were noted. However, when transport data were expressed on the basis of mucosal weight, increases in absorption and lumen-to-plasma fluxes were apparent in hypophysectomized animals. No differences were seen in plasma-to-lumen fluxes. The results indicate that when the transport data are corrected for mass of intestinal mucosa, the duodenum from hypophysectomized animals absorbs calcium more avidly due to an increase in lumen-to-plasma flux.