Transport of Amino Acids via the Mesenteric Lymph Duct in Rats ∗

Summary

It was demonstrated that dietary amino acids appear in the mesenteric lymph and are transported from the intestinal lumen both as free amino acids and newly synthesized protein via the lymphatic system. The amino acid profiles in intestinal lymph are compared to those in plasma and the intestinal mucosa. There seems to be a depression of lymph amino acid levels during the early phase of intestinal absorption which returns to normal in the later phase. This depression occurs at the same time the newly synthesized protein appears in the lymph.