Fluorescence study on the interaction of salicylate with rat small intestinal epithelial cells: possible mechanism for the promoting effects of salicylate on drug absorption in vivo.

The water-soluble drug, salicylate, was rapidly taken up by rat small intestinal epithelial cells. Salicylate, known to enhance the absorption of poorly absorbable drugs by rectum and small intestine, caused a significant decrease in the fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and a slight increase in the fluorescence polarization of 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS) in the isolated rat small intestinal epithelial cell suspension. An increase in the membrane fluidity of epithelial cells may possibly contribute to the enhancement of drug absorption by salicylate.