Effect of sulfasalazine on adaptive and functional changes in intestine of normal and protein-calorie-malnourished rats.
The effects of sulfasalazine (500 mg/kg body weight daily for 35 days) and its subsequent recovery for another 35 and 65 days have been investigated on the intestinal uptake of certain end-product nutrients, viz. glucose, leucine, alanine, and calcium, in normal and protein-calorie malnourished (PCM) male albino rats. Sulfasalazine administration caused a reduction in body weight in PCM animals, while intestinal weight and length as well as protein and nucleic-acid contents were reduced in both normal and PCM animals. Serum proteins also showed a decrease in PCM rats. PCM rats showed elevated levels of glucose, amino acids, and calcium uptake by the intestinal segments, but sulfasalazine feeding inhibited the uptake of nutrients both in normal-fed and malnourished animals. All these changes were found to be reversible after the withdrawal of drug treatment. Sulfasalazine caused a decrease in the Na(+)-dependent (active) glucose uptake as well as the Na(+)-independent (passive) process. The kinetic parameters of glucose uptake indicate that the drug might interfere with the transport/carrier protein of these nutrients, because reduction was observed in maximum uptake velocity (Jmax) of these systems without any change in the affinity constant (Kt).
Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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Chadha
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Kanwar
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Sanyal
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012460:Sulfasalazine; D005947:Glucose