Effect of chlorpromazine on intestinal absorption of sulfamethoxazole in rats.

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the intestinal absorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) was studied in isolated perfused rat small intestine by comparing two determinants, i.e. the epithelial permeability and the intestinal blood flow. The appearance rate of SMZ in blood in the presence of CPZ decreased to one-half of the control without CPZ. The pH of perfusion solution was significantly decreased by CPZ after 10 min perfusion. According to the Winne's absorption model, CPZ did not change the apparent epithelial permeability of SMZ, but decreased the epithelial permeability of unionized SMZ due to the decrease in the pH of perfusion solution by CPZ. It was also suggested that CPZ decreased the fraction of the total blood flow rate in the subepithelial capillaries to less than one-half.