Proabsorptive properties of forskolin: disposition of glycine, leucine and lysine in rat jejunum.

The effects of forskolin on mucosal cyclic AMP levels and active transport of glycine, L-lysine and L-leucine were studied in rat jejunum in vitro. Furthermore, the effects on lysine and glycine incorporation into mucosal protein and on mucosal cell volume were investigated. Elevation of intestinal mucosal cyclic AMP to threefold control levels by 10 mumol 1(-1) forskolin was accompanied by increased absorption of glycine (+33%), L-leucine (+72%) and L-lysine (+188%), as determined in a three compartment model suitable to measure active transport. Increased intracellular accumulation could be demonstrated for lysine as a transport substrate. Accordingly, using a dual label method, calculated values for uphill transport of lysine at the site of the brush border membrane were markedly enhanced. Forskolin up to 10 mumol 1(-1) had no effects on the fraction of lysine or glycine incorporated into TCA-precipitable proteins of jejunal absorptive cells. Serosal to mucosal transfer, as well as basolateral entry into mucosal cells remained unchanged for all three amino acids. Likewise, intracellular fluid space, calculated from distribution spaces for 14C-inulin and 3H2O as well as the response of cellular volume to an osmotic gradient were not affected by forskolin. As comparable stimulatory effects of forskolin on active hexose transport were reported earlier, it is suggested that forskolin - known to inhibit sodium-coupled fluid absorption - may stimulate active transport by enhancing sodium availability for sodium dependent intestinal cotransporters in general.