Figure 6. The capillary barrier to absorption of glucose in the rat jejunum.

Resistance of the capillary barrier as a fraction of total resistance to glucose transport between apical cytosol and villus capillary blood estimated as the ratio of the mean concentration difference across capillary walls to the mean concentration difference between the apical cytosol and the capillary blood, (C_b − C_m)/(C_cell − C_m), has been expressed as a percentage and plotted against the glucose absorption rate under conditions when the microvascular response was normal (•), 50 % of normal (^) and twice normal (▵). It is seen that the capillaries account for between 50 and 75 % of the resistance to absorption of glucose at normal physiological blood flows and glucose loads.