Uptake of amino beta-lactam antibiotics into rat intestinal brush border membrane vesicles.

Uptake of amino beta-lactam antibiotics into rat intestinal brush border membrane vesicles has been examined for characterization of the transport of the antibiotics through the gut wall of the rat. The uptake of cephradine, cephalexin and ampicillin into membrane vesicles was similar, and there were no significant changes in the uptake in the presence of a NaCl or a KCl gradient. These results suggested that the carrier-mediated transport systems relating to amino acids and glucose were not concerned with the intestinal absorption mechanism of amino beta-lactam antibiotics.