Active transport of calcium by intestine: effects of hypophysectomy and growth hormone

Abstract

The effects of hypophysectomy on active transport of calcium in vitro by everted gut sacs of rat duodenum are 1) an initial increase 4–5 days postoperatively and 2) a marked decrease 2–3 weeks postoperatively. The defect in transport results from reduction in the unidirectional transfers of Ca toward the serosa, and both steps in the transport (mucosal uptake and transfer to serosal surface) are impaired. Hypophysectomy also decreases iron transport (duodenal gut sacs), decreases l-proline transfer less strikingly (ileal gut sacs), increases d-galactose transport (jejunal gut sacs), and does not appear to influence either the electrical potential gradient from mucosa to serosa or the net flux of sodium. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with a preparation of bovine growth hormone restores transfer mechanisms for calcium and iron. Ovine prolactin is also active in restoring the Ca mechanism, whereas other pituitary and nonpituitary hormones are not. Cortisone, l-thyroxin, and estradiol decrease Ca transport further in hypophysectomized rats. Absorption of Ca from loops of rat duodenum in vivo is also decreased 2 weeks after hypophysectomy and can be increased by prior treatment with bovine growth hormone.