Fat digestion and absorption in the adrenalectomized rat.

Malabsorption of fat in the adrenalectomized rat has been confirmed. The criteria for adrenal hypofunction were more rigorous than in previous studies. The malabsorption is not due to impaired intestinal lipolysis or inadequate intestinal intracellular glyceride synthesis. Delayed gastric emptying is probably secondary to the malabsorption rather than a cause. It is postulated that impaired intestinal fatty acid activation may be the key defect and that in some way this inhibits fatty acid transport across the mucosal membrane.