Developmental changes in glycolipids and synchronized expression of nutrient transporters in the mouse small intestine

Small intestinal epithelial cells are rich in characteristic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) that are composed of phytosphingosine and α-hydroxy fatty acid, but the physiological roles of GSLs in the small intestine remain unclear. Here, we report the developmental changes in GSL composition in the mouse small intestine (duodenum through ileum) and their relationship with the temporal mRNA expression of nutrient transporters. Up to 2 weeks after birth, the major GSLs were hexosylceramide (HexCer), GM3, GM1 and GD1a. After 2 weeks of age, HexCer and asialo GM1 became the major GSLs. The ceramide moiety of both HexCer and asialo GM1 was composed mainly of phytosphingosine and α-hydroxy fatty acid, from birth through adulthood. Immunohistochemically, GM1 localized in the cytoplasm, and asialo GM1 localized exclusively in the apical microvillous membrane of small intestinal epithelial cells. The shift from sialylated GSLs to asialo GM1 was achieved by the combinational and tissue-specific transcriptional down-regulation of GM3 synthase and GM1-β-galactosidase at around 2 weeks of age. The temporal mRNA expression of various nutrient transporters also showed significant changes at around 2 weeks of age, including the up-regulation of the sodium/glucose cotransporter and the oligopeptide transporter, as well as the down-regulation of amino acid transporters. These synchronized changes in the mRNA expression of nutrient transporters with GSL composition during suckling-to-weanling transition suggest the contributions of GSLs to morphologic and functional development in the membrane of mouse small intestinal epithelial cells.