Influence of the enteric surface coat on the unidirectional flux of acetamide across the wall of rat small intestine.

In vivo treatment of the jejunal mucosa with glycosidic enzymes seems to remove the enteric surface coat of the enterocyte. As a consequence, the mucosa-to-serosa unidirectional flux of acetamide increases remarkably. The glycocalyx probably represents a barrier to the diffusion of small hydrosoluble solutes.