MEASUREMENTS OF INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY USING LOW-MOLECULAR WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS (PEG-400) .1. CHEMICAL-ANALYSIS AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PEG-400

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 73 (2), 241-246
Abstract
A new approach to the measurement of intestinal permeability in man was developed, using low MW polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) as probe molecules. PEG 400 (range of MW 232-594) is a mixture of water-soluble molecules of different sizes which can be extracted readily from biological fluids and analyzed by GLC. PEG 400 is nontoxic, not degraded by intestinal bacteria, not metabolized after absorption, and rapidly excreted in urine. The different-sized molecular components cross the intestinal epithelium at different rates, allowing characterization of the passive permeability properties of the mucosa.