Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Ex Vivo Intestinal Sacs to Assess Mucosal Permeability in Models of Gastrointestinal Disease
Published on: February 9, 2016
In vivo and in vitro permeability in coeliac disease
H Vogelsang1, M Schwarzenhofer, B Steiner
1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinic of Internal Medicine IV, Vienna, Austria. harald.vogelsang@akh-wien.ac.at
Background:
An increased permeability to sugars is found in the intestine of untreated patients with coeliac disease after oral ingestion.
Aim:
To test whether in vitro permeability resembles in vivo permeability tests and whether an in vitro gliadin gluten challenge could be performed by an in vitro permeability test.
Methods:
We measured in vivo (urinary excretion after sucrose-lactulose-mannitol ingestion) and in vitro permeability (by mini-Ussing chambers) in 25 healthy controls, 12 relatives of coeliac disease patients, 19 treated, eight partly treated and 16 untreated patients with coeliac disease.
Results:
In vivo sugar permeability was increased in nearly all coeliac patients. Additionally, in vitro permeability to lactulose (P=0.0007), mannitol (P=0.004) and sucrose (P=0.042) was higher in untreated patients with coeliac disease. It correlated with in vivo permeability (sucrose tau=0.61, P=0.006; lactulose tau=0.41, P < 0.0001; mannitol tau=- 0.56, P=0.62) and was dependent on mucosal damage. An in vitro gliadin challenge over 24 h could not significantly change in vitro permeability in treated patients with coeliac disease.
Conclusions:
An in vitro permeability test capable of measuring elevated permeability in coeliac mucosa was described, but this test cannot replace oral gluten challenge by in vitro gliadin incubation.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In vitro
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
01:09Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In situ
The Doluisio method involves perfusing a prepared segment of a rat's small intestine with a solution of radiolabeled drug and a non-absorbable marker. This helps to differentiate between absorbed and non-absorbed drug concentrations. The intestinal segment is connected at both ends using tubing and syringes,...