The glucose polymer, named icodextrin, has been developed as a response to the disadvantages of glucose, used as an osmotic agent for peritoneal dialysis. The aim of this study was to establish the influence of icodextrin (2000 mg%) on the bidirectional transport (absorption and excretion) of urea (20 mg%), uric acid (20 mg%) and gentamicin (40 mg%), across the rabbits parietal peritoneum, intact and denuded of the mesothelium (2.5 mmol/l sodium deoxycholate) in a modified Ussing chamber. Icodextrin was introduced into the medium on the mesothelial side of the membrane after 70 min of the experiment. During the investigation with the intact tissue, icodextrin didn't change the bidirectional transport of urea and uric acid and transiently increased (by about 150%) gentamicin excretion. The mean values (75-130 min) of antibiotic absorption decreased by about 28%. The glucose polymer also modified transport dynamics of the denuded peritoneum and evoked changes, depending on the time and transport direction. The mean values (75-130 min) of urea, uric acid and gentamicin transport parameters decreased by about 30%. In conclusion in vitro icodextrin modifies the bidirectional transport of low molecular weight solutes across the peritoneum denuded of the mesothelium.

Keywords: animal study, Peritoneum, transport dynamics, icodextrin