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Neurogenic inflammation in the rat trachea. II. Identity and distribution of nerves mediating the increase in vascular permeability.

This study addresses the question of whether increased vascular permeability, which is a prominent feature of neurogenic inflammation in the respiratory tract, is mediated by sensory axons that end near venules in the airway mucosa. In these experiments, neurogenic inflammation was produced in the tracheal and bronchial mucosa of atropine-treated Long-Evans rats by electrical stimulation of the left or right superior laryngeal nerve and/or cervical vagus nerve. The particulate tracer Monastral blue was injected intravenously to localize the sites of increased vascular permeability, and microspectrophotometry was used to measure the amount of extravasated Monastral blue in the trachea and thereby quantify the increase in vascular permeability. In some rats, selective denervations were made to locate the cell bodies of neurons that mediate the increase in vascular permeability; in others, fluorescence immunohistochemistry and quantitative electron microscopic methods were used to determine which structures in the tracheal mucosa are innervated by these neurons. The study revealed that the vagally mediated increase in vascular permeability was sudden, transient (half-life = 2.4 min) and restricted to venules. Stimulation of the left or right superior laryngeal nerve increased the permeability of venules in the extrathoracic trachea, whereas stimulation of either vagus nerve increased vascular permeability in the intrathoracic trachea and bronchi. All nerves had bilateral effects in the trachea, but the vagus nerves had largely unilateral effects in the bronchi. Neurons that mediated the increase in venular permeability had their cells bodies in the jugular (superior sensory) ganglion of the vagus nerve or rostral portion of the nodose (inferior sensory) ganglion. Preganglionic autonomic vagal neurons in the brain stem were not essential for this increase in venular permeability. Few nerves identifiable by substance P-immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy were located near the affected venules, and no nerves were within 1 micron of the walls of venules. However, the epithelium and arterioles of the airway mucosa were densely innervated. All intraepithelial nerves were within 0.1 micron of epithelial cells, and at least two-thirds of nerves near arterioles were within 1 micron of the vessel walls. We conclude that the increase in venular permeability associated with neurogenic inflammation in the trachea and bronchi of rats is mediated by sensory axons that travel in the vagus nerves and superior laryngeal nerves.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Cation permeability ratios of sodium channels in normal and grayanotoxin-treated squid axon membranes.

Permeabilities of squid axon membranes to various cations at rest and during activity have been measured by voltage clamp before and during internal perfusion of 4 X 10(-5) M grayanotoxin I. The resting sodium and potassium permeabilities were estimated to be 6.85 X 10(-8) cm/sec and 2.84 X 10(-6) cm/sec, respectively. Grayanotoxin I increased the resting sodium permeability to 7.38 10(-7) cm/sec representing an 11-fold increase. The potassium permeability was increased only by a factor of 1.24. The resting permeability ratios as estimated by the voltage clamp method before application of grayanotoxin I were Na (1): Li (0.83): formamidine (1.34): guanidine (1.49): Cs (0.87): methylguanidine (0.86): methylamine (0.78). Grayanotoxin I did not drastically the resting permeability ratios with a result of Na (1): Li (0.95): formamidine (1.27): guanidine (1.16): Cs (0.47): methylguanidine (0.72): methylamine (0.46). The membrane potential method gave essentially the same resting permability ratios before and during application of grayanotoxin I if corrections were made for permeability to choline as the cation substitute and for changes in potassium permeability caused by test cations. The permeability ration choline/Na was estimated to be 0.72 by the voltage clamp method and 0.65 by the membrane potential method. Grayanotoxin I decreased the ration to 0.43. The permeability ratios during peak transient current were estimated to be Na (1): Li (1.12): formamidine (0.20): guanidine (0.20): Cs (0.085): methylguanidine (0.061): methylamine (0.036). Thus the sodium channels for the peak current are much more selective to cation than the resting sodium channels. It appears that the resting sodium channels in normal and grayanotoixn I-treated axons are operationally different from the sodium channels that undergo a conductance increase upon stimulation.

Animals↗

Butylated hydroxytoluene and inorganic phosphate plus Ca2+ increase mitochondrial permeability via mutually exclusive mechanisms.

Mitochondria undergo a permeability transition (PT)2, i.e., become nonselectively permeable to small solutes, in response to a wide range of conditions/compounds. In general, opening of the permeability transition pore (PTP) is Ca2+- and P(i)-dependent and is blocked by cyclosporin A (CsA), trifluoperazine (TFP), ADP, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Gudz and coworkers have reported [7th European Bioenergetics Conference, EBEC Short Reports (1992) 7, 125], however, that, under some conditions, BHT increases mitochondrial permeability via a process that may not share all of these characteristics. Specifically, they determined that the BHT-induced permeability transition was independent of Ca2+ and was insensitive to CsA. We have used mitochondrial swelling to compare in greater detail the changes in permeability induced by BHT and by Ca2+ plus P(i) with the following results. (1) The dependence of permeability on BHT concentration is triphasic: there is a threshold BHT concentration (ca. 60 nmol BHT/ mg mitochondrial protein) below which no increase occurs; BHT enhances permeability in an intermediate concentration range; and at high BHT concentrations (>120 nmol/mg) permeability is again reduced. (2) The effects of BHT depend on the ratio of BHT to mitochondrial protein. (3) Concentrations of BHT too low to induce swelling block the PT induced by Ca2+ and P(i). (4) The dependence of the Ca2+-triggered PT on P(i) concentration is biphasic. Below a threshold of 50-100 mu M, no swelling occurs. Above this threshold swelling increases rapidly. (5) P(i) levels too low to support the Ca2+-induced PT inhibit BHT-induced swelling. (6) Swelling induced by BHT can be stimulated by agents and treatments that block the PT induced by Ca2+ plus P(i). These data suggest that BHT and Ca2+ plus P(i) increase mitochondrial permeability via two mutually exclusive mechanisms.

Animals↗

Weak acid permeability of a villous membrane: formic acid transport across rat proximal tubule.

Chloride/formate exchange, in parallel with Na+/H+ exchange and nonionic diffusion of H2CO2, has been proposed as a mechanism of electroneutral transcellular Cl- reabsorption by the proximal tubule. However, the measured brush border H2CO2 permeability of the rat proximal tubule is at least an order of magnitude too low to support sufficient H2CO2 recycling. To investigate the possibility that an unstirred layer within the brush border might depress the measured H2CO2 permeability, we constructed a mathematical model of a villous membrane. Axial fluxes along villous and intervillous spaces were specified by Nernst-Planck diffusion equations. Model parameters were set to achieve agreement with ion and water fluxes measured in the rat proximal tubule. The equations were solved numerically to generate steady-state concentration profiles in the villous and intervillous spaces. An apparent brush border H2CO2 permeability was determined by perturbing luminal [H2CO2] and calculating the change in H2CO2 flux. Overall, the ratio of apparent brush border H2CO2 permeability to cell membrane H2CO2 permeability was greater than 90%. Contributing to the small decrease in apparent permeability are finite diffusion coefficients, folding of the membrane, and acidification of the luminal solution. An approximate analysis of this system shows the critical parameters of brush border formate transport to be the actual membrane H2CO2 permeability, and the diffusion coefficients of HCO2- and HCO3-. Nevertheless, decreasing the diffusion coefficients by one order of magnitude failed to depress apparent brush border H2CO2 permeability by more than an additional 25%. We conclude that although permeability is systematically underestimated across a villous membrane, unstirred layer effects in the brush border are still too small to resolve the discrepancy between the measured value of H2CO2 permeability and the value needed to allow recycling.

Animals↗

Reciprocal effects of phenothiazines and naphthalene sulfonamides on the external ATP-dependent permeability change in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

External ATP causes a great increase in passive permeability to phosphorylated metabolites in several transformed cells, but not in untransformed cells. We have previously demonstrated that the external ATP-dependent permeability change was induced in Chinese hamster ovary cells, CHO-K1, only in the presence of a mitochondrial inhibitor (rotenone, KCN) or a cytoskeleton-attacking agent, vinblastine (Kitagawa, T. and Akamatsu, Y. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 649, 76-82 (1981); 734, 25-32 (1983]. A similar ATP-dependent permeability change was also induced in CHO cells when the cells were treated with 10-30 microM trifluoperazine. This permeability change, like the previously mentioned ones, was found to be reversible and the treated cells remained viable. The permeability change induced by ATP and trifluoperazine was independent of changes in cellular ATP concentration and this property was the same as that of the permeability change with external ATP and vinblastine. Since trifluoperazine is known to interact with calmodulin and to inhibit calmodulin-dependent cellular functions, these results may indicate that calmodulin associated with the cytoskeleton plays an important role in control of the permeability change, although nonspecific perturbation by the drug of the membranes cannot be ruled out. Chlorpromazine and a naphthalene sulfonamide, W-7, also induced an ATP-dependent permeability change. However, these drugs, like mitochondrial inhibitors, reduced the cellular ATP concentration to induce the permeability change. Thus, a clear difference in the action of these drugs in intact cells was also shown in this study. Possible mechanisms for the ATP-dependent permeability change in mammalian cells are discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Serum albumin decreases transendothelial permeability to macromolecules.

We examined the effects of serum albumin and other serum proteins on the fluxes of tracer 125I-albumin (MW 69 kDa) and 125I-haptoglobin (MW 100 kDa) across the pulmonary artery endothelial monolayer in vitro to test the role of serum proteins in modulating the endothelial barrier function. Replacement of control complete culture medium (20% fetal calf serum in DMEM) with DMEM alone increased the transendothelial 125I-albumin clearance rate (a measure of 125I-albumin permeability) by 83% of the control value. Repletion with 50% calf serum or with 2.0 g% albumin (i.e., the albumin concentration in 50% serum) decreased 125I-albumin permeability to the control value. This effect of serum or albumin was concentration-dependent since neither 12.5% serum nor 0.5 g% albumin (i.e., albumin concentration in 12.5% serum) altered 125I-albumin permeability from control values. The ammonium sulfate-precipitated serum protein fraction rich in albumin decreased 125I-albumin permeability from the control DMEM value, whereas serum fractions containing predominantly gamma-globulin or depleted of protein did not significantly alter 125I-albumin permeability. Other serum proteins that have been proposed to reduce endothelial permeability, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (0.035-0.14 g/100 ml) and fibronectin (5 mg/100 ml), did not decrease 125I-albumin permeability from DMEM values. The endothelial permeability of 125I-haptoglobin of 4.63 +/- 0.53 x 10(-6) cm/sec in the presence of DMEM was 30% of the 125I-albumin permeability value. The addition of 2.0 g% albumin or 50% serum decreased 125I-haptoglobin permeability to 57 and 31%, respectively, of the DMEM value. These results indicate the critical role of serum albumin in regulating the restrictiveness of the endothelial barrier to macromolecules.

Animals↗

Vascular permeability to growth hormone in the rat central nervous system after focal spinal cord injury. Influence of a new anti-oxidant H 290/51 and age.

Vascular permeability to the growth hormone (GH) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is unknown. This investigation was undertaken to examine vascular permeability to 125I-labelled rat growth hormone (rGH) in the central nervous system (CNS) of normal animals. Since age and spinal cord injury influences the metabolism of GH, these factors were also included. No statistically significant difference was seen regarding rGH permeability between young (aged 19-21 weeks) and old (age 38-42 weeks) animals. A focal trauma to the cord, produced by an incision into the right dorsal horn of the T10-11 segments in young animals, increased rGH permeability in several spinal cord segments at 0.5-5.0 h after injury. This permeability increase progressed over time. Similar trauma to old rats resulted in a significantly less increase in rGH permeability in the spinal cord 5 h after the trauma. This indicates that trauma-induced increased permeability of rGH is age-dependent. Pretreatment of normal young animals with a new antioxidant (H 290/51) did not influence the rGH permeability. However the drug prevented the trauma-induced increase of rGH permeability at 5 h after injury. This indicates that inhibition of lipid peroxidation has some protective effect on trauma-induced increase in rGH permeability.

Aging↗

Effect of aging and caloric restriction on intestinal permeability.

Intestinal permeability is increased in several disorders such as Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Since aging leads to alteration of many biological functions, the effect of aging on intestinal permeability was studied by measuring the intestinal permeability in aging rats gavaged with different size permeability probes--mannitol, polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400, and inulin. In rats fed with control diet, there was a significant increase in intestinal permeability to medium size probes PEG 400 (14.8 +/- 0.4 and 21.0 +/- 1.1% at 3 and 28 months respectively, p less than .01) and mannitol (3.41 +/- 0.4 and 5.3 +/- 0.5% at 3 and 28 months, respectively, p less than .01). Intestinal permeability of the large macromolecule inulin did not change (0.42 +/- 0.03 and 0.38 +/- 0.02% at 3 and 28 months, respectively) with aging. There was no correlation between weight of the rats and their intestinal permeability. Because dietary caloric restriction has been found to prolong the life span, retard deterioration of several biological functions, and affect intestinal absorptive functions, we examined the effect of lifelong calorie restriction on intestinal permeability changes. Lifelong calorie-restricted diet did not affect age-related change in intestinal permeability. We conclude that intestinal permeability of medium size probes increases with aging and that lifelong caloric restriction does not prevent this change. We speculate that age-associated deterioration in intestinal barrier functions could permit increased systemic absorption of lumenal antigens and could perhaps contribute to the genesis of antigen-related age-associated diseases.

Aging↗

Anisotropic hydraulic permeability in compressed articular cartilage.

The extent to which articular cartilage hydraulic permeability is anisotropic is largely unknown, despite its importance for understanding mechanisms of joint lubrication, load bearing, transport phenomena, and mechanotransduction. We developed and applied new techniques for the direct measurement of hydraulic permeability within statically compressed adult bovine cartilage explant disks, dissected such that disk axes were perpendicular to the articular surface. Applied pressure gradients were kept small to minimize flow-induced matrix compaction, and fluid outflows were measured by observation of a meniscus in a glass capillary under a microscope. Explant disk geometry under radially unconfined axial compression was measured by direct microscopic observation. Pressure, flow, and geometry data were input to a finite element model where hydraulic permeabilities in the disk axial and radial directions were determined. At less than 10% static compression, near free-swelling conditions, hydraulic permeability was nearly isotropic, with values corresponding to those of previous studies. With increasing static compression, hydraulic permeability decreased, but the radially directed permeability decreased more dramatically than the axially directed permeability such that strong anisotropy (a 10-fold difference between axial and radial directions) in the hydraulic permeability tensor was evident for static compression of 20-40%. Results correspond well with predictions of a previous microstructurally-based model for effects of tissue mechanical deformations on glycosaminoglycan architecture and cartilage hydraulic permeability. Findings inform understanding of structure-function relationships in cartilage matrix, and suggest several biomechanical roles for compression-induced anisotropic hydraulic permeability in articular cartilage.

Animals↗

Permeability of human medial collateral ligament in compression transverse to the collagen fiber direction.

This study quantified the apparent and intrinsic hydraulic permeability of human medial collateral ligament (MCL) under direct permeation transverse to the collagen fiber direction. A custom permeation device was built to apply flow across cylindrical samples of ligament while monitoring the resulting pressure gradient. MCLs from 5 unpaired human knees were used (donor age 55 +/- 16 yr, 4 males, 1 female). Permeability measurements were performed at 3 levels of compressive pre-strain (10%, 20% and 30%) and 5 pressures (0.17, 0.34, 1.03, 1.72 and 2.76 MPa). Apparent permeability was determined from Darcy's law, while intrinsic permeability was determined from the zero-pressure crossing of the pressure-permeability curves at each compressive pre-strain. Resulting data were fit to a finite deformation constitutive law [Journal of Biomechanics 23 (1990) 1145-1156]. The apparent permeability of human MCL ranged from 0.40 +/- 0.05 to 8.60 +/- 0.77 x 10(-16) m(4)/Ns depending on pre-strain and pressure gradient. There was a significant decrease in apparent permeability with increasing compressive pre-strain (p=0.024) and pressure gradient (p<0.001), and there was a significant interaction between the effects of compressive pre-strain and pressure (p<0.001). Intrinsic permeability was 14.14 +/- 0.74, 6.30 +/- 2.13 and 4.29 +/- 1.71 x 10(-16) m(4)/Ns for compressive pre-strains of 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively. The intrinsic permeability showed a faster decrease with increasing compressive pre-strain than that of bovine articular cartilage. These data provide a baseline for investigating the effects of disease and chemical modification on the permeability of ligament and the data should also be useful for modeling the poroelastic material behavior of ligaments.

Anisotropy↗

Permeability of human jejunal segments to gonyautoxins measured by the Ussing chamber technique.

The aim of this work was to study the mechanisms involved in intestinal permeability of gonyautoxins. For this purpose, the influence on transmucosal resistance of gonyautoxins and their permeability was investigated in excised human jejunal segments. To evaluate these events, the isolated mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers for electrophysiological characterization. The organic gonyautoxin cations were applied to the mucosal side and samples collected on the serosal side. The permeability of gonyautoxins measured at 37 degrees C was 4.3-fold greater than at 4 degrees C, indicative of high cation selective transcellular permeability. In order to characterize the permeability of gonyautoxins, the effects of choline, ouabain, phlorizin and fluorescein were studied. The inhibition by these compounds was expressed as percent inhibition of the maximal flux of gonyautoxins at 120 min. Replacement of sodium ion by choline, showed the highest inhibition (85.5% from control). Ouabain, fluorescein and phlorizin inhibit the gonyautoxins flux by 53.9, 41.0 and 9.64%, respectively. The inhibition of gonyautoxins' permeability produced by ouabain and phlorizin go in parallel with an increase in the transmucosal electrical resistance (TER). This study shows that permeability of gonyautoxin cations occurred predominantly by the transcellular pathway (76%) when toxins were applied in the mucosal-serosal direction. The paracellular pathway of gonyautoxins was 24% of total permeability when compared with [3H] mannitol permeability. These findings suggests that permeability of gonyautoxins depends on temperature and processes involving sodium ion. Replacing sodium ions by choline ions showed a marked effect on TER.

Biological Transport, Active↗

Differential effects induced by alpha- and beta-endosulfan in lipid bilayer organization are reflected in proton permeability.

The effects of two insecticides isomers, alpha- and beta-endosulfan, on the passive proton permeability of large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) reconstituted with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or mitochondrial lipids were reported. In DPPC (LUV) gel phase, at 30 degrees C, the global kinetic constant (K) of proton permeability (proportional to the proton permeability) initially increased slightly with the increase of alpha-endosulfan/lipid molar ratio up to 0.143. In the range from 0.143 to 0.286, a discontinuity in the increment occurred and, above this range, the proton permeability increased substantially. In DPPC fluid phase, at 48 degrees C, the proton permeability showed a behavior identical to that observed in gel DPPC, with a sharp increase for alpha-endosulfan/lipid molar ratios ranging from 0.143 to 0.286. At these and higher concentrations, alpha-endosulfan induced phase separation in the plane of DPPC membranes, as revealed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Conversely to alpha-endosulfan, beta-endosulfan induced only a slight increase in the proton permeability, either in the fluid or the gel phase of DPPC, for all beta-endosulfan/lipid molar ratios tested. Additionally, the effects of the endosulfan isomers on the proton permeability of mitochondrial fluid lipid dispersions, at 37 degrees C, are similar to those described for DPPC. The beta-isomer induced a very small effect, and alpha-endosulfan, at low concentrations, increased slightly the proton permeability, but for insecticide/lipid molar ratios above 0.143 the permeability increased substantially. Consequently, the membrane physical state of synthetic and native lipid dispersions, as affected by the structural features of alpha- and beta-endosulfan, influenced the proton permeability. The effects here observed in vitro suggest that the formation of lateral membrane domains may underlay the biological activity of alpha-endosulfan in vivo, contributing to its higher degree of toxicity as compared with beta-endosulfan.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Effect of in vitro and in vivo aerosolized treatment with geniposide on tracheal permeability in ovalbumin-induced guinea pigs.

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of geniposide, a potent anti-inflammatory, on ovalbumin-antigen-induced tracheal permeability and transepithelial electrical resistance in guinea pigs. Two weeks after sensitization with ovalbumin (100 mg/ml), the permeability of guinea-pig tracheas was evaluated by flux measurements using the transcellular tracer, [(14)C]estradiol, and the paracellular tracer, [(14)C]mannitol. The effect of extracellular Ca(2+) with geniposide was also studied, using deletion of Ca(2+) in the donor chamber. The in vivo treatment effect of aerosolized geniposide on tracheal permeability in the ovalbumin-sensitized guinea pigs was also evaluated. The results indicate that tight junction permeability of ovalbumin-sensitized trachea was significantly dose dependent and decreased by geniposide (1-10 mM), as evidenced by substantial recovery of transepithelial electrical resistance and decreased transepithelial permeability of [(14)C]mannitol at (1.32+/-0.12) x 10(-5) cm/s. The effect of combination of the removal of extracellular Ca(2+) with geniposide had no effect on tight junction permeability of ovalbumin-sensitized trachea and revealed that transepithelial electrical resistance and junction permeability did not recover. In addition, the cAMP levels and phosphodiesterase activity were not significantly influenced in ovalbumin-sensitized tracheal tissues after geniposide treatment. Inhaled geniposide (50 mM, 30 min after ovalbumin sensitization) significantly restored junction permeability induced by ovalbumin (100 mg/ml, 2 min). Junction permeability did not recover on pretreatment with geniposide (50 mM for 30 min over 16 days consecutive before ovalbumin sensitization) after exposure of conscious guinea pigs to aerosol ovalbumin. In conclusion, geniposide has inhibitory effects on ovalbumin-induced junction permeability and recovery of transepithelial electrical resistance in guinea pig trachea, showing its potential as anti-asthma therapy.

Aerosols↗

Influence of secretin and L-NAME on vascular permeability in the coronary circulation of intact and diabetic rats.

The permeability in the intact and diabetic rat coronary circulation after administration of secretin (3.0 micromol/kg i.v.), an inhibitor of NOS (nitric oxide synthase), and L-NAME (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester hydrochloride) (1 mg/kg i.v.), and both substances given together, were studied. To measure protein extravasation Evans blue dye was used as a marker of vascular permeability. The vascular permeability of the left ventricle did not differ in intact and diabetic rats. In the diabetes state increased permeability of atria was observed. Administration of secretin did not influence the coronary vascular permeability in either the intact or the diabetic rats. L-NAME increased the atria permeability and did not change left ventricle permeability. In diabetes, injection of L-NAME caused a decrease in the permeability in both the atria and left ventricle. In intact rats secretin diminished the L-NAME effect in the atria. In diabetic rats co-administration of secretin+L-NAME increased the permeability of the atria and left ventricle, but L-NAME administered alone decreased them. Secretin modified the effect of L-NAME on coronary permeability in intact and diabetic rats.

Animals↗

The effect of branched-chain amino acid-enriched parenteral nutrition on gut permeability.

In situations of catabolic stress, the gut becomes atrophic and has a diminished barrier function as evidenced by an increased permeability to a variety of molecules. It is known that the parenteral administration of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) reduce gut atrophy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of BCAA-enriched solutions of parenteral nutrients on gut permeability. A secondary aim was to observe the association between gut permeability and variables that have been used to assess jejunal atrophy. Central venous lines were inserted into 30 rats before randomization to receive nutritional support with: (1) a conventional parenteral solution (CPN), (2) A 2.0% BCAA-enriched solution (BCAA), or (3) rat food ad lib (Rat Food). The rats were assessed after 7 d for nutritional status, gut morphology, and gut permeability ratio (ratio of the permeability to 14C raffinose and 3H mannitol). We found that rats in the Rat Food Group lost the least amount of weight, had the least amount of jejunal atrophy, and had better preservation of barrier function as determined by gut permeability. When compared with the CPN Group, the BCAA Group had better preservation of jejunal morphology and protein content (p < 0.05), but a similar gut permeability. A cross-correlation matrix demonstrated a significant negative correlation between permeability to mannitol and mucosal weight, mucosal protein content and mucosal DNA content. Branched-chain amino acid-enriched parenteral nutrition reduced gut atrophy but not the gut permeability associated with parenteral nutrition. In the parenterally nourished rat model, atrophy of the jejunum is associated with increased permeability to small molecules.

Amino Acids, Branched-Chain↗

Apical membrane of the gastric parietal cell: water, proton, and nonelectrolyte permeabilities.

Gastric parietal cell apical membranes must protect the cell from the extremely low pH and wide variations in osmolality of the gastric juice. To characterize the permeability properties of gastric apical membranes, we have measured passive permeabilities to water, protons, NH3, and small nonelectrolytes of membrane vesicles derived from parietal cells of fasted animals and fed animals. Both preparations are known to be highly enriched in H+/K(+)-ATPase, the enzyme responsible for acidifying the gastric contents. The preparations behaved as single populations, and their permeability properties were similar in all respects, permitting pooling of the results. This similarity suggests that insertion of tubulovesicles into the apical membrane does not change the behavior of the lipid bilayer. Osmotic water permeability (Pf) averaged (mean +/- SD) (2.8 +/- 0.3) x 10(-4) cm/s, a value 10-fold lower than that obtained in lecithin large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) and similar to that obtained in other water-tight epithelia. Similarly, ammonia permeability (PNH3) was low [(4.4 +/- 2.3) x 10(-3) cm/s] and 10 times below that of lecithin LUV. By contrast, proton permeability (PH+) was surprisingly high (0.030 +/- 0.011 cm/s) and similar to that of lecithin LUV. These results suggest that the pathway for proton permeation differs from that of water and NH3. Nonelectrolyte permeabilities were strikingly similar to those obtained in another water-tight epithelium, the toad urinary bladder. Moreover, these permeabilities followed Overton's rule in that permeability varied in accordance with the oil-water partition coefficient. We conclude that the gastric apical membrane, like that of several renal epithelia, is relatively water-tight and exhibits low permeabilities to small nonelectrolytes. These properties are likely to be essential to the ability of this membrane to perform its barrier function.

Ammonia↗

Effect of bending rigidity and interfacial permeability on the dynamical behavior of water-in-water emulsions.

Phase separation in aqueous biopolymer mixtures results in the formation of an interface, separating two aqueous bulk phases. The properties of that interface are key parameters to understand and predict phenomena, such as the phase-separation process and deformation of droplets in a flow field. In these processes, the structures and sizes of the morphologies depend on the balance between viscous and interfacial forces. Normally, one assumes that the interfacial tension is the only important parameter regarding the interfacial forces. However, we will show that in these water-in-water emulsions, bending rigidity and interfacial permeability also play an important role. Spinning drop experiments show that at long time scales the interface is permeable to both dissolved biopolymers and water. From droplet relaxation experiments, we could conclude that, for shorter time scales, water is the only ingredient that can diffuse through the interface. Due to this permeability, these methods cannot be used to calculate the interfacial tension accurately, without taking into account the permeability of the interface. Including the permeability, we give a full description for the relaxation time of deformed droplets. From this description, the interfacial tension and the permeability of the interface can be deduced simultaneously. We also incorporate the permeability and the bending rigidity into the description of the kinetics of phase separation. From this theoretical description, we predict four different regimes to occur in the phase-separation process depending on the size of the domains. For the scaling of the domain size with time, we find an exponent of (1)/(4) for bending- and permeability-dominated coarsening, an exponent of (1)/(3) for bending-dominated coarsening, an exponent of (1)/(2) for interfacial tension- and permeability-dominated coarsening, and an exponent of 1 for interfacial tension-dominated coarsening. The crossover between the different regimes depends on two different critical radii, R(c), equal to (2k/gamma)(1/2) and R(lambda), equal to etalambda(eff). Taking values for the interfacial properties, we find these critical radii to be larger than a micrometer, indicating that both bending rigidity and permeability are of importance during phase separation.

Adsorption↗

Link between drug absorption solubility and permeability measurements in Caco-2 cells.

The objective of this investigation was to establish a relationship between drug permeability and solubility in vitro and the extent of drug absorption in humans. We selected drugs with varying permeabilities and solubilities with the aim of establishing a relationship between permeability and solubility measurements in vitro and the extent of absorption in vivo. Effective permeability coefficients of the model drugs (naproxen, phenytoin, propranolol, diltiazem, salicylic acid, ephedrine, cimetidine, chlorothiazide, and furosemide) at 37 degrees C and pH 7.2 were estimated using the Caco-2 cell line. Saturation solubilities of the model drugs were estimated at pH 7.2 and at 37 degrees C. Data obtained from the permeability and solubility experiments were employed in classifying the drugs into high and low permeability-solubility groups. The permeability coefficients ranged from 1x10(-7) to 4x10(-5) cm/s, and a good correlation was observed between the permeability coefficients in Caco-2 cells and percent absorbed in humans. Drugs in the high permeability, high solubility class are completely absorbed (90% or higher). The study results indicate that there is a strong link between permeability measured in Caco-2 cells, solubility, and fraction of drug absorbed in humans.

Absorption↗