The uptake of oestrone from the lumen of the isolated perfused rat gut

1. In the isolated perfused rat gut oestrone was not taken up from the perfusate but was rapidly taken up from the gut lumen when administered in dimethyl sulphoxide or in 10% acetone in water.

2. Uptake from corn oil was much slower and the rate was concentration-dependent.

3. When given in dimethyl sulphoxide or in aqueous acetone, the residual oestrone in the gut lumen was largely unchanged, with only about 10% being present as the glucuronide. Of the oestrone in the gut perfusate, some 40% was glucuronidated.

4. No evidence was obtained for any reduction or hydroxylation, or for any sulphation, during uptake of oestrone by the gut.

5. No secretion of oestrone or its metabolites into lymph could be detected.