1.   Butyrate metabolism was similar in ascending and descending colon, and these values were not significantly different from those found in controls.

2.   In controls, we found similar rates of butyrate metabolism in the ascending and descending colon, but greater rates of glutamine metabolism in the proximal colon.

3.   Fleming et al have reported no difference in butyrate metabolism between caecal and colonic cells isolated from rats.

4.   Two studies have reported defective butyrate metabolism in epithelial biopsy specimens from patients with ulcerative colitis but these have so far been published only in abstract form.

5.   Their results on butyrate metabolism therefore concur with the findings of the dispersed cell experiments and are not in agreement with our findings.

6.   It seems unlikely from this work that ulcerative colitis is a result of a primary defect in butyrate metabolism.