The effects of selected antimicrobials on glucose transport in the rat intestine.

To determine whether oxytetracycline hydrochloride and the sodium salt of ampicillin have any adverse effects on the rat intestine, enteric enzyme levels and glucose transport rates were measured in vitro in rats. The intestinal transport of glucose did not differ significantly between control animals and those pretreated with ampicillin. For animals pretreated with oxytetracycline, the transport rates were significantly lower than those for the control group. The difference between the ampicillin and oxytetracycline groups, however, was not statistically significant. No significant differences in enteric levels of sucrase and maltase activity were found between any of the groups. The possibility that some antimicrobial agents may interfere with the absorption of nutrients suggested the need for caution in using these drugs in experimental animals.