Animal models for the study of intestinal lymphatic drug transport

Drug transport via the intestinal lymphatic system has been shown to contri bute to the absorption of a number of orally administered lipophilic drugs. In order to investigate this phenomenon and assist in the development of i mproved oral formulations, the use of appropriate animal models is required . This paper reviews the use of various animal models for this purpose, and describes in detail the conscious rat and dog models used in our laborator y. The advantages and disadvantages of both small and large animal models a re explored, as well as the factors which have been found to influence the outcome of intestinal lymphatic drug transport studies with these models. ( C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.