Changes in absorption and excretion of rhodamine 123 by sodium nitroprusside

Nitric oxide (NO) donors increase the permeability of water-soluble compounds with neither loss of cell viability nor lactate dehydrogenase release, but the involved mechanism is not fully understood. In this study, we focused on permeation via the transcellular route and P-glycoprotein, which is a typical ABC transporter. We examined the effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), which is an NO donor, on the membrane permeation of rhodamine 123 (Rho123), a representative P-gp substrate, and the change in expression level of ileal P-gp. We used an in situ closed loop method in rat ileum to study changes in the permeation of Rho123. The effects of SNP (1 and 10mg/kg) on the mdr-1a mRNA and P-gp protein expression levels were examined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The absorption and excretion of Rho123 were significantly increased in an SNP dose-dependent manner when compared with those with no addition, but no changes in protein expression level of P-gp in ileal BBM were observed by SNP administration. The relative activity of P-gp was not changed by SNP administration. On the other hand, the expression level of mdr-1a mRNA was induced by SNP administration. We indicated that SNP could increase the mucosal permeation of Rho123 via the transcellular route without an influence on P-gp, and we showed that this effect is temporary. SNP has no influence on P-gp function and protein expression level in the short term, but they may change in the long term.