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The effects of chronic diabetes mellitus of 4–5 weeks duration on the potential difference across the brush border membrane of rat small intestine (V_m) and on Na⁺-dependent uptake of D-glucose by jejunal brush border vesicles have been studied. Diabetes increased V^m in the jejunum from a mean value of –47.2 mV in control tissue to –57.4 mV in diabetic tissue (P<0.001) but was without effect on ileal V_m. Measurements of V_m during ion-substitution experiments revealed that the conductance of Na⁺ of the jejunal brush border was reduced by diabetes, whilst K₊ and Cl^– permeabilities were unaltered. Uptake studies using brush border vesicles and an Na⁺-electrochemical gradient showed that diabetes caused a 56% increase in the initial rate of uptake of D-glucose but was without effect on the peak to equilibrium ratio. Taken together, data from these two studies suggest that the lower Na⁺ permeability of the brush border in diabetes enhances the electrical and chemical driving force for active Na⁺-dependent uptake of glucose by reducing glucose-independent movement of Na⁺ across this membrane. Finally, the possible humoral factors involvedin this response to diabetes are discussed.

Journal of Endocrinology (1989) 123, 453–459