Changes in intestinal mucosal permeability caused by nonprotein thiol loss in rats

The barrier selectivity of the intestinal mucosal membrane permeability may be impaired in certain disease conditions. Membrane permeability was previously shown to be correlated with changes in nonprotein thiol in rat intestinal tissue by the everted sac method. In the present study, the mucosal effects of alloxan-induced diabetes and chronic alcohol administration to intact rats, as well as pre-treatment with diethyl maleate, ethanol, and salicylate, were investigated. In each case, a drop of mucosal nonprotein thiol was associated with an increased absorption of cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and phenol red, hydrophilic compounds that are poorly absorbed through intact membrane, and with a decreased absorption of L-phenylalanine. The effect of nonprotein thiol loss on rectal absorption of cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and phenol red was greater than that on the small intestinal absorption. The increase in phenol red absorption by diethyl maleate in the in vitro everted sac method correlated with Ca(2+) release from the intestinal mucosa, which was induced by nonprotein thiol loss. Resistance to the effect of nonprotein thiol loss on Ca(2+) homeostasis was greater in rat ileum than in rat colon (including rectum). The administration of cysteamine as an exogenous nonprotein thiol restored non-protein thiol levels in the mucosa along with the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa to the absorption of cefoxitin, cefmetazole, and phenol red. In contrast, the transport of L-phenylalanine in the small intestinal mucosa was not restored by cysteamine treatment.