Effect of taurine on the gastric absorption of drugs: comparative studies with sodium lauryl sulfate.

In order to clarify the mechanism of taurine-induced enhancement of drug absorption, some comparison was made between the actions of taurine and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), an anionic surfactant, by using the loop of rat stomach in situ. SLS enhanced the gastric absorption of aspirin and salicylamide, and the SLS-induced enhancement seems to be Na+-dependent. SLS failed to enhance the absorption of both drugs when NaCl was completely replaced by mannitoL or in the presence of ouabain even in the NaCL medium. In addition, even at the lower concentration of 0.05 mM, SLS enhanced the absorption of the two drugs, the extent of which is nearly corresponding to those of taurine. The actions of SLS and taurine on drug absorption are considered to have some similar points. The mechanism of the action was discussed in relation to the cyclic AMP system.