Editor,—I read with interest the recent paper by Schotka et al(Gut1999;44:490–496) which reported that prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) stimulated glucose absorption via the sodium dependent glucose transporter-1 in rat intestine.

The authors suggested that PGE₂ raises sodium dependent glucose transporter (SGLT₁) and thus increases glucose absorption. However, earlier papers contradicted this theory and we are now in a state of confusion. Kimberg and coworkers1 2 and Klaeveman and colleagues3 have suggested that prostaglandins increase membrane bound adenylate cyclase activity in the small intestinal mucosa, and thus inhibit Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity of gut mucosa.4 5 Recently, Sundaram and colleagues6 reported that inflamed ileums (excess prostaglandin) express low levels of SGLT₁ in rabbits, which indicates that prostaglandin may inhibit SGLT₁activity. Furthermore, a decrease in …