A. Adson et al., QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES TO DELINEATE PARACELLULAR DIFFUSION IN CULTURED EPITHELIAL-CELL MONOLAYERS, Journal of pharmaceutical sciences, 83(11), 1994, pp. 1529-1536
When using cultured cell monolayers to determine the mechanism of tran
scellular diffusion of molecules, it may be important to identify the
fraction that moves through the paracellular route or passively diffus
es through tight junctions. We characterized the apparent diameter of
the junctional pore in a variety of epithelial cell monolayers (Caco-2
, MDCK, alveolar). Using hydrophilic extracellular permeants varying i
n molecular radii and charge (neutral, anionic, cationic, zwitterionic
), rate-determining steps and factors of the paracellular route were q
uantitatively delineated by the model for molecular size-restricted di
ffusion within a negative electrostatic field of force. Protonated ami
nes permeated the pores faster than their neutral images while organic
anions were slower. With increasing molecular size the influence of c
harge diminished. This approach was used to quantify the relationship
between permeant radius and transepithelial electrical resistance and
to analyze changes in junctional pore size as a function of pharmacolo
gical perturbation, such as in the use of absorption promoters or adju
vants.