Brush border membrane vesicles formed from human duodenal biopsies exhibit Na+-dependent concentrative L-leucine and D-glucose uptake.

The human duodenum actively transports L-leucine and D-glucose under Na+ gradient conditions as demonstrated by uptake studies using brush border membrane vesicles from organ donor duodenum. Brush border membrane vesicles formed from peroral duodenal biopsies likewise demonstrate Na+ dependent concentrative uptake of D-glucose and L-leucine. This is the first demonstration of active transport processes in human duodenum. A simple microvesiculation method to form these vesicles is described as well as its potential application to clinical medicine in studying diseases of defective intestinal transport.