The effects of synthetic surfactants on intestinal permeability to glucose in vitro.

Abstract

SummaryTwo anionics, a cationic and a nonionic synthetic surfactant, were examined in an in vitro phloridzinized preparation for their effects on passive intestinal permeability to glucose. These agents increased intestinal permeability to glucose in a dose-related manner with the anionic surfactant, linear alkylate sulfonate, producing this effect at lower concentrations than any of the other surfactants tested. Histologic observations demonstrated that the mucosal epithelium was not altered by low surfactant concentraions which increased intestinal permeability. Increased glucose permeability could account, in part, for decreased glucose uptake by the intestine when exposed to detergents due to the production of a “leak” at the mucosal surface preventing a glucose gradient to be established between the mucosal cell and the serosal border.