1. This paper describes an investigation of the kinetics of influx of the dipeptide glycylsarcosine and the amino acids glycine and l-leucine into rings of everted hamster small intestine in vitro, in proximal and distal small intestine (jejunum and ileum). Results were expressed per unit wet weight of intestine.
2. At all concentrations studied (0·1–100 mmol/l), influx of glycylsarcosine was more rapid in the jejunum than in the ileum. In contrast, at all concentrations studied, influx of glycine and leucine was more rapid in the ileum than the jejunum.
3. Estimates of the simple diffusion component in total influx were made. This component became increasingly large as the substrate concentration was raised. After correction for simple diffusion, transport of all three substrates conformed to Michaelis-Menten kinetics in both jejunum and ileum. Values for simple diffusion, apparent Kt and Vmax. are reported.
4. Possibly physiological implications of the results are discussed, and it is pointed out that under experimental conditions similar to our own, simple diffusion is too large a component in total influx to be ignored.
