Extrusion decreases the negative effects of kidney bean on enzyme and transport activities of the rat small intestine.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of raw and extruded kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Pinto) consumption on the gut physiology of young growing rats. The intestinal enzyme activity (sucrase, maltase, Na(+) /K(+) ATPase, aminopeptidase N, dipeptidylpeptidase IV, alkaline phosphatase) and the uptake of sugar (d-galactose) and amino acids (l-leucine) were measured in brush border membrane vesicles. Five groups of growing male Wistar rats were fed ad libitum for 15 days on five different 10% protein diets: one containing casein as the main source of protein (Control, C), and four containing raw (RKB1, RKB6) or extruded kidney bean (EKB1, EKB6) at 1% and 6% of total protein content respectively. Extrusion treatment significantly reduced the content of bioactive factors (phytates, tannins) and abolished lectins, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and α-amylase inhibitory activities. Rats fed raw beans (especially RKB6) showed lower growth rate and food intake as compared to those fed extruded legumes, probably due to the high levels of lectins and other anti-nutritive factors in the raw beans. Gut enzymatic activities and uptake of d-galactose and l-leucine were lower in RKB6 and RKB1-fed animals, although they significantly improved in the groups fed extruded beans. Enzymatic activity and uptake in EKB1 were similar to those of casein-fed rats, whereas the uptake and growth rate of EKB6 were different to the control. This is attributable to the higher non-thermolabile biofactor content in the EKB6 diet, especially phytates and tannins, than in EKB1. This article shows the dose-dependent toxicological effects of bioactive factors contained in kidney beans on gut function. The extrusion process reduced their adverse impact on gut physiology and growth rate.

[Modulation of gastrointestinal physiology through probiotic strains of Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum]. / Modulación de la fisiología gastrointestinal mediante cepas probióticas de Lactobacillus casei y Bifidobacterium bifidum.

The products called functional foods, which besides being merely nutritional have different beneficial effects on the organism, are situated in the context of diet and health promotion. Amongst these functional foods we can distinguish, amongst others, between probiotic and prebiotic compounds. The micro-organisms most widely used in probiotic foods belong to the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium types. In this article we have studied the effect of diets supplemented with Lactobacillus casei or Bifidobacterium bifidum on animal development and especially on the intestinal function, centred on their immune, digestive and absorptive activity in growing animals. The bacteria strains used modify the activity of the small intestine of healthy mice, significantly affecting their enzymatic activity (sucrase, maltase and aminopeptidase) and the collection of nutrients (galactose and glycilsarcosine), as well as the intestinal immune activity (higher number of Peyer's patches). However, these effects do not appear to disturb the development of the growing animals since no significant differences are appreciated in their body weight or in their blood parameters. These results make clear the possible beneficial effects on intestinal physiology and contribute to the understanding of the possible mechanisms of action of the probiotics, which could be employed in the preventive treatment of different pathologies related to the digestive apparatus.

Presence of leptin receptors in rat small intestine and leptin effect on sugar absorption.

Leptin is involved in food intake and thermogenesis regulation. Since leptin receptor expression has been found in several tissues including small intestine, a possible role of leptin in sugar absorption by the intestine was investigated. Leptin inhibited D-galactose uptake by rat small intestinal rings 33% after 5 min of incubation. The inhibition increased to 56% after 30 min. However, neither at 5 min nor at 30 min did leptin prevent intracellular galactose accumulation. This leptin effect was accompanied by a decrease of the active sugar transport apparent Vmax (20 vs. 4.8 micromol/g wet weight 5 min) and apparent Km (15.8 vs. 5.3 mM) without any change in the phlorizin-resistant component. On the other hand, immunohistochemical experiments using anti-leptin monoclonal antibodies recognized leptin receptors in the plasma membrane of immune cells located in the lamina propria. These results indicate for the first time that leptin has a rapid inhibitory effect on sugar absorption and demonstrate the presence of leptin receptors in the intestinal mucosa.

Hepatitis A in Latin America: a changing epidemiologic pattern.

In a multicenter study, hepatitis A virus (HAV) seroprevalence was surveyed in six countries in Latin America in which in 12,000 subjects were stratified for age. The highest rates of seroprevalence were recorded in the Dominican Republic (89.0%) and Mexico (81.0%), with lower rates in Brazil (64.7%), Chile (58.1%), Venezuela (55.7%), and Argentina (55.0%). The seroprevalence of HAV in children between 1 and 5 years of age was less than 50%, except in the Dominican Republic. In the 5-10-year-old age group, seroprevalence rates have also decreased compared with previous reports. This suggests that the epidemiology is shifting from high to intermediate endemicity, with the population susceptible to HAV infection shifting from children to adolescents and adults. Furthermore, data from Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico show that HAV seroprevalence is significantly lower in people living in medium and high socioeconomic conditions. This study suggests the need for appropriate vaccination programs to be implemented targeting children, adolescents, and adults, particularly in higher socioeconomic groups.

Interactions of cephradine and cefaclor with the intestinal absorption of D-galactose.

Oral cephalosporins are frequently prescribed beta-lactam antibiotics. Although it has been well established that cephalosporins compete with dipeptides for absorption in the intestine, using the same transport mechanism, little is known about the action of the drugs on the absorption of other nutrients. In this work the effect of cephradine and cefaclor on the absorption of D-galactose has been studied. Intestinal sugar uptake was measured in-vitro in pieces of intestine (50 mg) and brush-border membrane vesicles, and in-vivo in intestinal loops. Galactose uptake was inhibited by cephalosporins in a dose-related, time-dependent manner. In-vivo the inhibition appeared when the antibiotics were on the luminal side of the enterocyte and when they reached the gut from the basolateral side. Only the active transport of the sugar was modified; passive transfer did not change in the presence of cephalosporins. In brush-border membrane vesicles, cephradine and cefaclor did not alter sugar uptake in either sodium or potassium gradients. Both antibiotics non-competitively inhibited basolateral Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity. These findings show that cephradine and cefaclor inhibit the active-transport component of galactose absorption because they reduce the activity of the basolateral Na+,K(+)-ATPase.

Factors affecting postpartum ovarian activity in crossbred primiparous tropical heifers.

The relationship between postpartum ovarian activity and a total of 9 variables was studied in a dry tropical environment. Primiparous cows (n=61) that had shown no peripartum abnormalities, and were not suckled but milked twice daily, were used in the study. Independent variables included crossbreeding, sex of the calf, season, body condition, weight of cow at calving, age of dam at calving, uterine involution, calf weight and accumulated milk yield. Diet was a controlled variable. Dependent variables were first estrus postpartum and/or first milk progesterone elevation prior to first estrus. A bull fitted with a chin ball marker was used to detect first estrus postpartum, while ovarian structures were palpated per rectum once a week. Progesterone was measured by RIA in milk samples collected twice weekly. First postpartum estrus was detected at 56 +/- 32 days postpartum, a first milk progesterone elevation was observed in 50.8% of cows at 42 +/- 27 days. Cows calving in the dry season had longer intervals and those who calved males had shorter postpartum intervals. Accumulated milk yield affected both intervals significatly (p < 0.01). Weight, age and uterine involution were asociated with first milk progesterone elevation, while crossbreeding, weight at calving and weight postpartum change were associated with the dependent variables.

Functional expression of the rabbit intestinal Na+/L-proline cotransporter (IMINO system) in Xenopus laevis oocytes.

Proline absorption across small intestine takes place mainly through a Na+-dependent cotransporter localized at the brush border membrane of the enterocyte named IMINO system. It transports L-proline and 4-OH-proline but not L-alanine, neither cationic nor anionic amino acids. The present work demonstrates the functional expression of this transporter in Xenopus laevis oocytes by mRNA microinjection and radiotracer uptake techniques. Poly (A)+-RNA was isolated from rabbit jejunal mucosa and injected into oocytes. Five days after the injection, results showed 1.5 fold stimulation of 50 microM 3H-proline uptake by the injected oocytes when compared to the non injected oocytes uptake. Poly (A)+-RNA was sized fractionated and fractions were injected again. Increase on Na+-dependent L-proline uptake was obtained with a mRNA fraction between 2,4 and 4,4 kb, which was used to construct a cDNA library. The library was sequentially divided and cRNAs injected into oocytes in order to screen for an increment on the signal. A subdivision containing around 2,000 colonies was found to augment L-proline uptake 25 fold over the non injected oocytes uptake. This cRNA pool was used to further characterize the transporter. Results showed that in the absence of Na+ there was no L-proline uptake, 2 mM 4-OH-L-proline completely inhibited 50 microM proline uptake and there was no 50 microM alanine uptake. In summary, these results demonstrate the expression of the rabbit small intestine IMINO transporter in Xenopus laevis oocytes and support the next steps in the isolation of the clone.

Nutritional quality of extruded kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Pinto) and its effects on growth and skeletal muscle nitrogen fractions in rats.

The influence of extrusion cooking on the protein content, amino acid profile, and concentration of antinutritive compounds (phytic acid, condensed tannins, polyphenols, trypsin, chymotrypsin, alpha-amylase inhibitors, and hemagglutinating activity) in kidney bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Pinto) was investigated. Growing male rats were fed diets based on casein containing raw or extruded kidney beans with or without methionine supplementation for 8 or 15 d. Rates of growth, food intake, and protein efficiency ratio were measured and the weight of the gastrocnemius muscle and the composition of its nitrogenous fraction was determined. Extrusion cooking reduced (P < 0.01) phytic acid, condensed tannins, and trypsin, chymotrypsin, and (alpha-amylase inhibitory activities. Furthermore, hemagglutinating activity was abolished by extrusion treatment. Protein content was not affected by this thermal treatment. Rats fed raw kidney bean lost BW rapidly and the majority died by 9 d. Pretreatment of the beans by extrusion cooking improved food intake and utilization by the rats and they gained BW. Supplementation of extruded kidney bean with methionine further enhanced (P < 0.01) food conversion efficiency and growth. However, BW gains and muscle composition still differed (P < 0.01) from those of rats fed a high-quality protein.

Crossbreeding dual-purpose cattle for beef production in tropical regions.

Six breed types groups of six steer calves each were used to observe differences in growth and carcass traits: F1 Brown Swiss (F1BS), F1 Holstein (F1HO), F2 Brahman (F2BR), F2 Criollo Rio Limon (F2CRL), purebred Criollo Rio Limon (CRL), and Perija Mosaic (PMO). After 404 days of grazing, the heaviest F1BS and F2BR steers were different from F1HO and CRL counterparts (p < 0.05) in slaughter weight. F2BR dressed higher and had better muscle conformation scores than F1BS, F1HO, F2CRL and CRL (p < 0.05). F1BS had the thickest backfat (0.5 cm) but only differed (p < 0.05) from F1HO (0.3 cm). Rib eye area, marbling score, carcass maturity, quality or yield grade, boneless cut percentages, bone percentage or percent trimmable fat did not vary among breed types. All steers were within the A maturity level and graded Standard. Results indicate the importance of feeding dual-purpose steers to heavier weights to please industry preferences.

Liver proteolytic activity in tannic acid-fed birds.

The influence of tannic acid in the rate of growth (BWG), feed intake, protein efficiency ratio, and liver proteolytic activities (cathepsin A and D) were measured in growing male chickens. These birds were fed ad libitum over a 15-d experiment on 20% protein standard diets containing heated soybean (control, C) as the main source of protein. Tannic acid (TA; 25 g/kg diet) was added to all diets, except the control. It has been found that in comparison to control-fed birds, TA-fed birds showed a significant reduction (P < 0.01) in BWG, protein efficiency ratio, and relative weight of liver, together with a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the activities of cathepsin A and D in liver. Addition of TA to the control diet had no significant effect on feed intake. The possible nature of these results is discussed.

[Experiences during training of a group for tasting bovine meat at an industrial refrigerated abattoir in Venezuela]. / Experiencias en el entrenamiento de un panel de degustación de carne vacuna a nivel de un matadero frigorífico industrial venezolano.

During three months, a group of people (meat consumers and active personnel) of a Venezuelan packing house were asked to assign discretionary scores to a sample of 103 beef longissimus steaks in order to familiarize them with the score sheet and to their future job as panelists. Scores assigned to 37 steaks by seven candidates that assisted regularly to these preliminary sessions (out of 12 attendants), were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to determine variability among judges before training. The whole group (n = 12) potential candidates from both sexes, and ranging between 25 and 45 years, were interviewed and pre selected for formal training. Triangle tests were used as selection tool and allowed for dismissing two of them. Training reinforced acquaintance with test procedures and improved natural abilities, sensitivity and memory for test attributes by using an 8-point descriptive scale to describe samples differing in fiber tenderness, amount of connective tissue, overall tenderness, juiciness, and flavor intensity. After 2 mo. of training (5 h weekly) the first panel performance evaluation (PPE) was conducted over 4 days with 3 sessions per day and 3 samples per session with 9 different samples. Data for each candidate were subjected to one-way ANOVA and F-ratio served as criteria to rank candidates' ability for describing each attribute. Panelist 7 and 8 rated last and were excused to conform an 8-member panel. The panel evaluated 300 samples during a 6-mo period and a second PPE was conducted. The second PPE revealed changes in relative ranking positions. Data from the first 40 (out of 300) samples were subjected to ANOVA for testing score (panelist) variability after training. A significant effect of panelist was detected before (P < .05) and after (P < .001) training, but a much greater variability became apparent in untrained candidates. Mean separation for trained panelist only differed in decimal units within the same points or adjacent points of the scale. Results validated methodologies used for panel training and the panel capability for sensorial evaluation of non-processed beef.

Distribución de especies y susceptibilidad antimicrobiana en cepas de Enterococcus de origen clínico / Distribution of species and antimicrobial susceptibility in Enterococcus strains of clinical origin

A fin de establecer la frecuencia de aislamiento de las diferentes especies de enterococos, su distribución de acuerdo al tipo de muestra y servicio de atención al paciente y determinar la resistencia antimicrobiana, se analizaron 1.624 cepas provenientes de cultivos bacteriológicos de pacientes atendidos en el Centro de Referencia Bacteriológica del Servicio Autónomo Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo, durante el período Enero 2010 - Diciembre 2015. Las especies más frecuentes fueron E. faecalis (52,46%) y E. faecium (41,38%). El mayor número de cepas se obtuvo a partir de muestras de piel y tejidos blandos (54,92%), orina (23,15%) y sangre (17,27%). Los servicios con mayor frecuencia de aislamiento fueron: hospitalización de adultos (47,71%) y hospitalización pediátrica (16,38%). No se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la especie de enterococos y el tipo de muestra o el servicio de atención al paciente (p>0,05). Se detectó más resistencia en E. faecium que en E. faecalis. Los enterococos están adquiriendo cada vez mayor resistencia antimicrobiana y, por lo tanto, se hace necesario mantener una vigilancia permanente sobre ellos, realizar su adecuada identificación y detectar oportunamente la resistencia, con el fin de aplicar medidas preventivas adecuadas antes de que estos microorganismos causen un mayor impacto intrahospitalario.

In order to establish the frequency of isolation of the different species of enterococci, their distribution according to the type of sample and patient care service and determine the antimicrobial resistance, 1,624 strains obtained from bacteriological cultures of patients attended in the Bacteriological Reference Center at the Autonomous Service University Hospital of Maracaibo, during the period January 2010 - December 2015, were analyzed. The most frequent species were E. faecalis (52.46%) and E. faecium (41.38%). The greatest number of strains was obtained from skin and soft tissues samples (54.92%), urine (23.15%) and blood (17.27%). Services with increased frequency of isolation were: hospitalization of adults (47.71%) and pediatric hospitalization (16.38%). It did not find statistically significant association between the specie of enterococci and sample type, or patient care service (p > 0.05). It was detected more resistance in E. faecium than in E. faecalis. The enterococci are acquiring ever greater antimicrobial resistance, and therefore, it is necessary to maintain permanent vigilance over them, perform their proper identification and timely detect resistance, in order to apply preventive measures before these microorganisms cause a greater intrahospital impact.

The impact of adherence and disease control on resource use and charges in patients with mild asthma managed on inhaled corticosteroid agents.

OBJECTIVE: Inadequate asthma control may affect asthma resource use and treatment charges, consequently contributing to the growing economic burden of asthma. The study objective was to determine the impact of medication adherence and asthma control on resource use and charges in mild asthmatic patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A claims database was analyzed retrospectively from October 2001-December 2007 to identify mild asthmatic patients aged 12-65 years who began ICS treatment. Demographics, drug utilization, and resource use for each patient were identified for the 365-day period before and after the index date (pre-index and post-index periods, respectively). Patients were designated as having high control high adherence (HCHA) or low control low adherence (LCLA) based on post-index exacerbations and the percentage of days covered; not all patients who qualified for study inclusion met adherence designation requirements. Differences between the HCHA and LCLA cohorts in resource use (eg, asthma treatment days) and asthma-related treatment charges were assessed. RESULTS: Compared with the HCHA cohort (n = 483), the LCLA cohort (n = 258) had more asthma treatment days (2.9 vs 3.9, respectively; P < 0.0001) and higher overall asthma treatment charges ($2655 vs $3345, respectively; P < 0.0001) in the post-index period. An adjusted odds ratio suggested that patients receiving mometasone furoate (MF) were approximately 5 times more likely to belong to the HCHA cohort than patients receiving any other ICS (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Better asthma control and adherence to prescribed ICSs are associated with lower asthma-related resource use and charges. Mild asthmatic patients receiving MF were more likely to be in the HCHA cohort than patients receiving other ICSs, perhaps due to the once-daily dosing of MF. Current NAEPP guidelines recommend low-dose ICS monotherapy for mild persistent asthma; thus, it is critical to optimize mild persistent asthma control and limit unnecessary resource use and charges.

Genes related to iron metabolism and susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease in Basque population.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common dementing disorder and presents with a progressive and irreversible cognitive decline of gradual onset. To date, several reports have involved iron in AD physiopathology. In this study, we have analysed TFC2 variant and HFE mutations (H63D and C282Y) in 211 AD patients and 167 controls recruited from an area of the Basque Country. Furthermore, we have studied APOE genotype as it is a well-known risk factor for AD. APOE epsilon 4 allele was associated with an increased risk of AD and an earlier age at onset, whereas no association was found between TFC2 or HFE C282Y mutation and disease susceptibility. The frequency of H63D mutation was higher in control population (29.9%) than in AD patients (18%), suggesting a protective role of this allele on AD either due to the presence of the mutation itself or through the effect of other related genes in the ancestral haplotype in which it is included.

Effect of dietary quercetin and sphingomyelin on intestinal nutrient absorption and animal growth.

Research on cancer and other conditions has shown flavonoids and sphingolipids to be food components capable of exerting chemoprotective action. Nevertheless, little is known about their effects on healthy individuals and their potential usefulness as therapeutic agents. The present study examined the possible action of a dietary flavonoid, quercetin, and a sphingolipid, sphingomyelin, as functional foods in healthy animals. In particular, the effect on animal growth of supplementing a conventional diet with one or other of these substances (0.5 % quercetin and 0.05 % sphingomyelin) was considered. Possible action affecting intestinal physiology was also analysed by measuring the uptake of sugar and dipeptide, mediated by the Na(+)-dependent sugar transporter SGLT1 and the dipeptide Na(+)/H(+) exchanger PEPT1 respectively, and the activity of related intestinal enzymes such as sucrase, maltase and aminopeptidase N. Both substances seemed to modify small intestinal activity in healthy mice, altering intestinal enzymatic activity and nutrient uptake. These effects observed in the small intestine did not impair normal development of the animals, as no differences in serum biochemical parameters or in organ and body weights were found. The findings should help in elucidating the mechanisms of action of these food components with a view to their possible use in the prevention of certain pathological conditions.

[Pneumonia in children in Latin America: morbidity, predisposing causes, mortality and costs]. / Neumonía en los niños de América Latina: morbilidad, causas predisponentes, mortalidad y costos.

The paper refers to pneumonia in children under five years of age in Latin America, and covers the following toplos: morbidity, predisposing and risk factors, mortality and costs. It emphasizes the magnitude, tendency and advances in the control of the problem. High pneumonia morbidity and mortality rates are observed, with slow tendency to decrease in the majority of the countries of the Region, with some exceptions. The paper points out the importance of the National Programs of Control of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI), specifically of pneumonia, following the guide lines of the PAHO/WHO. Special mention is made of the diagnosis, ambulatory standardized treatment and cost-effectiveness under the strategy of the Primary Health Care. The preventive measures are important, including the health education of parents and the training of the community health workers. The principal goal is to obtain a decrease of one third in the mortality of pneumonia in children, within the present.

Drug-nutrient interactions: inhibition of amino acid intestinal absorption by fluoxetine.

Fluoxetine is one of the most widely used antidepressants and nowadays it is also being used to manage obesity problems. In our laboratory we demonstrated that the drug inhibited sugar absorption (Monteiro et al. 1993). The aim of the present work was to determine the effect of fluoxetine on intestinal leucine absorption. Using a procedure of successive absorptions in vivo the drug diminished amino acid absorption by 30% (P < 0.001). Experiments in vitro in isolated jejunum also revealed a reduction in leucine uptake of 37% (P < 0.001). In both cases fluoxetine only affected mediated transport without altering diffusion. In a preparation enriched in basolateral membrane, fluoxetine inhibited the Na+,K(+)-ATPase (EC 3.6.1.37) activity (55%; P < 0.001) in a non-competitive manner with an inhibition constant (Ki) value of 0.92 mM. Leucine uptake by brush-border membrane vesicles was diminished by the drug (a reduction of 48% was observed at 30s, P < 0.001); only the apical Na(+)-dependent transport system of the amino acid was modified and the inhibition was non-competitive. Leucine uptake in the presence of lysine indicated that transporter B was involved. These results suggest that fluoxetine reduces leucine absorption by its action on the basolateral and apical membrane of the enterocyte; the nutritional status of the patients under drug treatment may be affected as neutral amino acid absorption is decreased.

Influence of cephalosporins on intestinal enzymatic activity.

The effect of the broad spectrum antibiotics cefaclor, cefadroxil, cephradine, cefatrizine, cephaloglycine and cefroxadine was examined on rat intestinal brush border enzymes, aminopeptidase N (E.C. 3.4.11-2), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (E.C. 3.4.14.5) and alkaline phosphatase (E.C. 1.3.1.3.). All the cephalosporins assayed -except cefaclor- inhibit the aminopeptidase N activity, in an uncompetitive manner. Cefatrizine showed the most important inhibitory effect (52.5%; p < 0.001). Cefaclor and cefadroxil have no effect on the activity of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV, while cephaloglycine and cephradine showed a non competitive type inhibition. In contrast, cefatrizine and cefroxadine showed a competitive inhibition for this enzyme. None of the cephalosporins assayed had any effect on alkaline phosphatase activity.

Galactose transport inhibition by cytochalasin E in rat intestine in vitro.

Cytochalasins are cytoskeleton disrupters, and cytochalasin E has been reported to increase intestinal paracellular permeability. In this study, the cytochalasin E effect on galactose transport has been investigated. Ussing-type chamber experiments show an inhibitory effect of 20 microM cytochalasin E on unidirectional mucosal to serosal flux of galactose. On the contrary, the opposite unidirectional flux is not modified by the inhibitor. Results using intestinal everted sacs and rings confirm that galactose uptake by the tissue is diminished by cytochalasin E. The effect appears already after 5 min incubation, depends on cytochalasin E concentration, and does not occur in the absence of Na+. The inhibition is accompanied by an increase in the apparent K(m) of the active sugar transport (11.5 vs.15.8 mM) without significant change in the VmaX (10.6 vs. 9.1 micromol x g(-1) wet weight x 5 min(-1)). Cytochalasin E does not modify either galactose uptake by brush border membrane vesicles or Na(+)-K(+) ATPase activity in the enterocytes, indicating that the inhibitory effect on the Na(+)-dependent sugar transport cannot be explained as a direct effect on SGLT1 activity or as an indirect effect through the Na(+)-K(+) ATPase. Thus, our results suggest that cytochalasin E decreases SGLTI activity indirectly through cytoskeleton disruption.

Altered intestinal transport of amino acids in cirrhotic rats: the effect of insulin-like growth factor-I.

The intestine is an important target organ for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), an anabolic hormone synthesized in the liver upon growth hormone (GH) stimulation. Levels of IGF-I are reduced in cirrhosis, and altered GH/IGF-I axis may contribute to malnutrition in cirrhotic patients. Our aim was to study Na(+)-dependent jejunal transport of amino acids (L-leucine, L-proline, L-glutamic acid, and L-cysteine) in cirrhotic rats and to analyze the effect of IGF-I on this function. IGF-I or saline was administered for 2 wk to rats with CCl(4)-induced cirrhosis and saline was administered to healthy control rats. Transport of amino acids was assessed in brush-border membrane vesicles (BBMV) using (14)C- or (35)S-labeled amino acids, and the kinetic constants V(max) and K(t) were determined. Na(+)-independent uptake of L-leucine, L-proline, L-glutamic acid, and L-cysteine by BBMV was similar in all groups. Na(+)-dependent uptake of all four amino acids was significantly diminished in cirrhotic rats compared with both controls and IGF-I-treated cirrhotic rats. The latter two groups exhibited similar V(max) and K(t), whereas untreated cirrhotic rats had reduced V(max) and increased K(t) compared with normal controls and IGF-I-treated cirrhotic animals. In conclusion, the transport of all four tested amino acids by BBMV is impaired in cirrhotic rats, and low doses of IGF-I can correct this defect.