In vivo Intestinal Absorption of L-Alanine in Irradiated Rabbits

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Abstract
The effects of ionizing radiation (60Co) on intestinal absorption of L-alanine were studied by means of an in vivo technique permitting measurement of radioactivity in a large number of blood samples taken from the portal and femoral veins of albino rabbits following duodenal injection of 20 µCi of L-alanine-14C. The experiments were carried out 4 days after irradiation. The curves so obtained show a very rapid rise and fall of activity in the portal vein under all three experimental conditions (control, 300 r, and 600 r). Absorption was practically completed 50 minutes after the injection of this amino acid. Absorption trends were similar and no significant difference was observed between those of irradiated and unirradiated animals. At the doses used, histological examination 4 days after irradiation showed slight effects on the absorbing cells of the intestine.