Stimulating effects of sorbitol and L-xylose on rat ileal Ca transport in vitro

The direct effect of sorbitol and L-xylose on net intestinal calcium transport was compared to that of lactose, by determining unidirectional steady state calcium fluxes in segments of rat ileum in vitro under short-circuited conditions. The iso-molar addition of either 100 mM sorbitol, L-xylose, or lactose in mucosal buffer fluid increased the absorptive flux of Ca from mucosa to serosa to a similar extent and thus reversed ileal net Ca transport from net secretion to a zero net movement. The three substances decreased tissue conductance and reversed tissue polarity. At 200 mM, sorbitol induced a stimulation of net Ca transport due to an enhancement of absorptive Ca flux but in addition due to a decrease of secretory Ca flux from serosa to mucosa. The presence of 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide abolished the effects of sorbitol on ileal Ca flux. In conclusion, the present result shows that sorbitol, L-xylose, and lactose increase net Ca absorption to a comparable extent, in the absence of electrochemical or osmotic gradients. Such an absence of specificity suggests a stimulation of transcellular Ca transport related to the decrease of Na concentration in mucosal solution.