The effect of acute poisoning with potassium nitrate and sodium nitrite on the processes of intestinal absorption of D-xylose in rats.

The intestinal transport of D-xylose was studied during the acute poisoning of male Wistar rats with orally administered potassium nitrate and sodium nitrite. At the peak of xylose absorption, the metabolic parameters of Na+/K(+)-ATPase, alkaline phosphatase, oxygen uptake, and lactic acid level were determined in the small intestine mucosa. Nitrite in a dose of 80 mg NaNO2/kg b.w. increased the permeability of gastric mucosa for D-xylose and raised the uptake of oxygen by the small intestine mucosa. No changes were observed in the activity of Na+/K(+)-ATPase and alkaline phosphatase. A dose of 10 mg NaNO2/kg b.w. was not followed by increased absorption of this sugar. It was also demonstrated that potassium nitrate had no effect on the process of intestinal absorption of D-xylose and failed to change the determined metabolic parameters of the small intestine mucosa.