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Abstract
1. We have studied L‐valine transport by the caecal segments of 6‐ to 8‐week‐old chickens. Isolated enterocytes from the proximal caecum incubated with 0.1 mM L‐valine can accumulate the substrate against a concentration gradient. After 50 min incubation, the intracellular L‐valine concentration reached 0.53 mM, a value higher than that observed in enterocytes from the jejunum (0.34 mM; P< 0.01).
2. Enterocytes from the medial and distal caecal regions are unable to transport L‐valine uphill (cell concentration: 0.1 mM).
3. Amino acid accumulation by proximal caecal cells was Na+‐dependent and was inhibited by ouabain and 2,4‐dinitrophenol. L‐methionine inhibits L‐valine uptake and a 2.5 mM concentration abolishes the capacity of enterocytes to accumulate the substrate.
4. The high accumulation ratios shown by the proximal caecum for L‐valine suggest a role for this intestinal segment in the absorption of neutral amino acids present in the caecal chamber.