INSULIN IN W O/W MULTIPLE EMULSIONS - BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY AFTER ORAL-ADMINISTRATION IN NORMAL AND DIABETIC RATS/

In this work the biological effects of two w/o/w multiple emulsions co mposed of the soybean oil (EHS) or medium-chain triglycerides (ETCM), containing insulin, were studied. The release mechanism of insulin fro m multiple emulsions proposed in our previous in-vitro investigations was confirmed by subcutaneous administration. This mechanism is the sw elling-breakdown phenomenon which occurs when the emulsions are dilute d under hypo-osmotic condition. The biological effect after oral admin istration, evaluated in two experimental protocols, single administrat ion in normal and diabetic rats and short-term treatment in diabetic r ats, shows that in diabetic rats small amounts of biologically active insulin were absorbed from these emulsions. In these experiments no si gnificant difference between EHS and ETCM was found.