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Bile acids reversible effects on small intestinal permeability

Anin vitro study in the rabbit

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Abstract

To define the action of deconjugated bile acids on the small intestinal permeability in an in vitrosystem, we investigated the effects of chenodeoxycholic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid on the rate of transmural flux of lactulose in jejunal and ileal mucosa of rabbits, stripped of their muscle layers and mounted in Ussing chambers. In a series of experiments, tissue samples from small intestinal segments either exposed to bile acids or not also were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy to study the integrity of the tight junctions. Results show that chenodeoxycholate, starting at the concentration of 0.1 mM, enhanced in a doserelated manner the trans epithelial flux of lactulose in the ileum. Both chenodeoxycholate (0.5 mM) and ursodeoxycholate (0.5 mM) significantly increased mucosal permeability to lactulose in jejunum and ileum; the effect of chenodeoxycholate was also shown to be reversible, as it completely disappeared within 40 min after its withdrawal and it did not result in permanent changes of epithelial transport function. Finally, the tight junctions appeared loosened by the addition of 1 mM chenodeoxycholate, suggesting that this is the major site of the transient bile acid increase of small intestinal permeability to compounds such as lactulose, having a molecular radius wider than 0.5 nm.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Pediatria e Sezione Autonoma di Epatologia, 2a Facoltà di Medicina Università di Napoli, Italy

    A. Fasano, G. Budillon, S. Guandalini, R. Cuomo, G. Parrilli, A. M. Cangiotti, M. Morroni & A. Rubino

  2. Istituto di Morfologia Umana Normale Università di Ancona, Italy

    A. Fasano, G. Budillon, S. Guandalini, R. Cuomo, G. Parrilli, A. M. Cangiotti, M. Morroni & A. Rubino

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  1. A. Fasano
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  2. G. Budillon
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  3. S. Guandalini
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  4. R. Cuomo
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  5. G. Parrilli
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  6. A. M. Cangiotti
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  7. M. Morroni
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  8. A. Rubino
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Fasano, A., Budillon, G., Guandalini, S. et al. Bile acids reversible effects on small intestinal permeability. Digest Dis Sci 35, 801–808 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536791

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01536791

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