Expression of monocarboxylate transporters I and IV and the ancillary protein CD147 in the intestinal tract of healthy horses and ponies.

The research focuses on the study of the distribution and expressions of monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) 1 and 4 and an ancillary protein CD147 in the intestinal tract of healthy horses and ponies, with the aim to contribute valuable data for understanding the absorption of key nutrients in the equine digestive system.

Research Methodology

• The research involved twelve healthy horses and ponies which were either slaughtered for meat production or euthanized for reasons not related to gastrointestinal tract disease.
• The complete gastrointestinal tract was extracted from each equid within forty-five minutes post-slaughter or euthanasia.
• Tissue samples were taken from different sections of the digestive system: the antimesenteric side of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, middle part of the cecum, sternal flexure of the ventral colon, pelvic flexure, sternal flexure of the dorsal colon, and descending colon.
• The expressions of MCT1, MCT4, and the auxiliary protein CD147 were assessed in tissue samples from each of the eight intestinal locations using quantitative PCR assay, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical analyses.

Findings of the Study

• The research revealed that MCT1 was most abundantly expressed in the cecum and colonic sites. On the other hand, MCT4 was primarily expressed in the proximal section of the intestine, which includes the small intestinal sites and cecum.
• Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that MCT1 and CD147 are located in the membranes of enterocytes, the cells that line the interior of both crypts and villi in the gut.

Conclusions of the Research

• The research concluded that the observed distribution of MCT1 and MCT4 in the equine intestinal tract, combined with the available knowledge on substrate absorption sites, suggest that MCT1 may primarily facilitate the uptake of short-chain fatty acids in the large intestine while MCT4 might largely contribute to the uptake of lactate in the small intestine.
• These findings provide significant insight into the specific roles of these transporters in nutrient absorption within the equine digestive system, which could be crucial in understanding digestive health and nutrition in horses.