This study investigates the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas in vivo, as well as its distribution to pancreatic beta cells. Sulfatide, a glycosphingolipid, has been implicated in insulin processing and secretion in vitro, but its role in vivo is less understood. The researchers used radioactive sulfatide to examine its uptake in mice after oral and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. They found that sulfatide was taken up in the gastrointestinal tract, with selective uptake of short-chain and hydroxylated sulfatide fatty acid isoforms in the small intestine. Oral administration of sulfatide did not result in significant distribution to the pancreas, while i.p. administration did. In vitro studies in isolated rat islets showed that sulfatide, regardless of its fatty acid length, was endocytosed and metabolized by pancreatic islets. The study concludes that sulfatide can be taken up by the pancreas via i.p. administration and is endocytosed and metabolized by pancreatic islet cells, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in diabetes research.This study investigates the uptake of exogenously administered sulfatide in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas in vivo, as well as its distribution to pancreatic beta cells. Sulfatide, a glycosphingolipid, has been implicated in insulin processing and secretion in vitro, but its role in vivo is less understood. The researchers used radioactive sulfatide to examine its uptake in mice after oral and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. They found that sulfatide was taken up in the gastrointestinal tract, with selective uptake of short-chain and hydroxylated sulfatide fatty acid isoforms in the small intestine. Oral administration of sulfatide did not result in significant distribution to the pancreas, while i.p. administration did. In vitro studies in isolated rat islets showed that sulfatide, regardless of its fatty acid length, was endocytosed and metabolized by pancreatic islets. The study concludes that sulfatide can be taken up by the pancreas via i.p. administration and is endocytosed and metabolized by pancreatic islet cells, suggesting potential therapeutic applications in diabetes research.