Chondroitin sulphate and peritoneal permeability.

We studied the effect of chronic intraperitoneal (ip) infusion of saline supplemented with the glycosaminoglycan-chondroitin sulphate 0.1% on the permeability and peroxidation of the peritoneal membrane in rats and compared this with the effect of saline infusion alone. Animals treated with chondroitin sulphate had a higher net ultrafiltration (uf), a slower glucose absorption from the dialysate and less trans-peritoneal loss of proteins. Chronic ip infusion of chondroitin sulphate reduced peroxidation of the peritoneum. These observations suggest that chondroitin may effect the peritoneal interstitium-an important barrier of fluid and solutes transport.