Pathway and form of absorption of palmitic acid in the chicken

Abstract

The ratio of lipid C14 in plasma of portal vein blood to that in plasma of systemic blood was determined in chickens killed 30, 60, 90, and 150 min after injection of palmitic acid-1-C14 into their gizzards. In other experiments other ratios were determined: (a) lipid C14 in plasma of pancreaticoduodenal blood to that in portal vein blood in chickens killed 30 min after fatty acid administration; and (b) lipid C14 in jejunal vein to that in portal vein plasma in birds killed 90 and 150 min after the injection. The results demonstrated that the portal system is a significant pathway for the absorption of fatty acid from the intestines of the bird, and that during the early period absorption from the duodenum takes place.Measurement of the C14 remaining in the digestive tract contents indicated that up to 96% of the injected labeled palmitic acid was absorbed in 90 min. Analysis of ultracentrifugally-separated plasma lipoproteins in blood drawn from the pancreaticoduodenal vein half an hour after introduction of the labeled palmitic acid into the gizzard revealed that the palmitic acid was absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream principally as triglycerides in the very low density (Sf > 20) lipoproteins.