Lactose hydrate can increase the transcellular permeability of β-naphthol in rat jejunum and ileum.

BACKGROUND

The unstirred water layer (UWL) is an integral part of the apical surface of mucosal epithelia and comprises mucins (MUC), for which there are many molecular species. Galectins, a family of β-galactoside-binding lectins, form a lattice barrier on surface epithelial cells by interacting with MUC. Lactose inhibits the galectin-MUC interaction. Therefore, the present study investigated the galectin-MUC interaction in the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and its role in intestinal barrier functions.

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

The effects of lactose hydrate (LH) on the membrane permeability of the rat small intestine and Caco-2 cells were examined. LH enhanced the membrane permeability of the rat small intestine, which contains the UWL, via a transcellular route, for which the UWL is the rate limiting factor. The membrane permeability of Caco-2 cells, in which the UWL is insufficient, was not affected by LH. The apparent permeability coefficient (P) of a paracellular marker was not significantly altered in the rat small intestine or Caco-2 cells treated with LH at any concentration. Furthermore, the P of β-naphthol which is a transcellular marker was not significantly altered in Caco-2 cells treated with LH, but was significantly increased in the rat small intestine in a LH concentration-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results demonstrate that the physical barrier has an important function in gastrointestinal membrane permeability, and LH-induced changes increase the transcellular permeability of β-naphthol in rat small intestine.