The metabolic fate of [1−14C]glucosamine, of N-acetyl[1−14C]glucosamine and of glycoproteins labelled with [1−14C]glucosamine was studied in rats for a period of 24hr. after these materials were given orally or injected. When [1−14C]glucosamine was injected 26·3% of the label was excreted in the urine, 19·7% was expired as carbon dioxide and 12·7% was incorporated into plasma proteins. When the same compound was given orally, 49·2% of the label was expired as carbon dioxide, with little appearing in the urine or in the plasma. When N-acetyl[1−14C]glucosamine was injected, 51·3% of the label was excreted in the urine with 12·3% appearing in carbon dioxide, but there was little incorporation into plasma protein. When this compound was given orally, 46·5% of the label was expired as carbon dioxide, 7·4% was recovered in the urine and 1·7% was incorporated into plasma protein. After the injection of 14C-labelled glycoprotein 21·0% of the label was expired as carbon dioxide, whereas when it was given orally 49·8% of the label was recovered in carbon dioxide. The differences observed between the metabolic fate of the amino sugars when they were given orally and their fate when injected could not be accounted for by the action of the intestinal microflora or by the rate of administration of the material. It is concluded that amino sugars undergo metabolic alteration or degradation during absorption.
