The influence of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol on jejunal glucose transport in pigs.

The experiments were aimed at evaluating whether the activity of the glucose transporter in the pig's jejunum is affected by deoxynivalenol (DON)-contaminated feed. This is based on the ability of DON to inhibit the protein synthesis on cellular level which might also involve the synthesis of the intestinal glucose transporter.Two groups of six castrated male pigs were restrictively fed a control or a DON contaminated diet (=5.7 mg/kg). Immediately after slaughtering the pigs, the mid-jejunum was quickly dissected, washed, frozen and stored at -80°C until preparations. Brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were prepared by Mg(2+)-EGTA-precipitation and differential centrifugation. The activity of the glucose transporter was examined by measuring the uptake of [(3)H]-glucose into the BBMV. The glucose uptake was quantified by using the rapid filtration technique.The glucose uptake into BBMV followed Michaelis-Menten-kinetic. Comparison of the kinetic parameters Vmax (transport capacity) and Km (transport affinity) of the two treatment-groups showed no significant differences between feeding a DON-contaminated or control diet. It was concluded that dietary DON exposure (=5.7 mg/kg) for five weeks had no obvious influence on the intestinal glucose transporter and its activity in pigs.