Intestinal transport of di-isopropylidene-glucose.

Based on a previous observation, it was postulated that dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) acts as a carrier-model in the intestinal absorption of glucose and galactose (Csáky and Ho, 1966). It was further hypothetized that DMSO forms a loosely-bonded hydrophobic complex with the hexoses. The co-valently-bonded di-isopropylidene-glucose (DAG) displays a structure similar to that of the hypothetical DMSO-glucose complex. Therefore, in the course of the present study the intestinal absorption of the DAG was examined. Three criteria were used to determine whether DAG utilizes the glucose carrier or is absorbed by simple diffusion: the absorption kinetics, inhibition of the transport of glucose by DAG, and inhibition of the DAG absorption by phlorizin. By all three criteria DAG does not utilize the glucose carrier, but is absorbed from the intestine by simple diffusion similarly to the hypothetical DMSO-glucose complex. The possibility of a DAG produced disturbance in the epithelial membrane is suggested by the enhanced absorption of glucose by DAG and by a previous observation that it produces anesthesia (Csáky, 1952).