Disaccharide Hydrolysis, Intestinal Absorption and Electrogenic Properties in Salmonella Enterocolitis in Mice

Abstract

The hydrolysis of maltose, sucrose or lactose and absorption of the corresponding monosaccharides using everted in vitro small intestine of mice heavily infected with Salmonella enteritidis var. chaco was significantly reduced compared with uninfected controls. Maltose was most efficiently hydrolyzed, sucrose less so, and lactose barely hydrolyzed. The serosal fluid transfer and gut fluid uptake generally decreased in the infected intestine. The absorption of free monosaccharides was also markedly reduced in the diseased intestine, and the serosal fluid transfer and gut fluid uptake decreased. Glucose and fructose were extensively metabolized to lactate during transfer in both the normal and diseased intestine, fructose apparently remaining unabsorbed. Electrical potential differences were associated with the rate of monosaccharide(s) absorption, and decreased in the infected intestine.