Sensitive and non-invasive method for the in vivo analysis of membrane permeability in small animals

Tissue membranes are boundaries that isolate organs or cavities in the body. These semi-permeable membranes are responsible for passive protection that acts through the regulation of nutrient absorption, secretion and filtration of small molecules. These functions could be altered as a consequence of inflammation or trauma, which in turn could lead to changes in permeability, allowing the entrance of toxins, antigens, proteins or facilitating the spread of tumors. Membrane permeability therefore plays an important role in numerous diseases. However, current experimental techniques that are available to quantify membrane permeability in small animals have limited precision and temporal specificity. Improvements in such measurements would lead to a deeper understanding of disease pathogenesis and this may accelerate the development of specific therapies. The study reported here concerns the efficacy of a novel, non-invasive imaging analysis-based measurement method that significantly improves the quantification of tissue membrane permeability in small animals, while at the same time mitigating the adverse effects experienced by the animals under study.