Intestinal absorption of glucose in mice as determined by positron emission tomography

Key Points The goal was to determine the importance of the sodium–glucose cotransporter SGLT1 and the glucose uniporter GLUT2 in intestinal glucose absorption during oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) in mice. Glucose absorption was determined in mice using positron emission tomography and three non‐metabolizable glucose probes: one specific for SGLTs, one specific for GLUTs, and one a substrate for both SGLTs and GLUTs. Absorption was determined in wild‐type, Sglt1−/− and Glut2−/− mice. Gastric emptying was a rate‐limiting step in absorption. SGLT1, but not GLUT2, was important in fast glucose absorption. In the absence of SGLT1 or GLUT2, the oral glucose load delivered to the small intestine was slowly absorbed. Oral phlorizin only inhibited the fast component of glucose absorption, but it contributed to decreasing blood glucose levels by inhibiting renal reabsorption.