The effect of some polyene macrolides on absorption from the small intestine in the rat.

The effect of three polyene macrolides, candicidin, amphotericin B and nystatin on the absorption of [3H] cholesterol was studied in the rat by using the in situ gut loop perfusion technique. Chronic treatment with candicidin and its presence at various concentrations in the gut loop perfusion experiments inhibited [3H] cholesterol absorption although a smaller effect was also obtained with amphotericin B and nystatin at higher concentrations. A similar but much less pronounced action of candicidin was also observed on the absorption of [3H] corticosterone and [14C] phenytoin.