[The effect of mesothelium damage on peritoneal transport functions: in vitro studies].

Bidirectional transport across rabbit parietal peritoneum of urea, uric acid, gentamycin and albumin were examined in control conditions and after mechanical or chemical mesothelium damage. The transport mean values, exprerssed as transport coefficients, of intact peritoneum amounted 1.37; 1.18; 4.30; 0.20 [10(-4) cm s-1] respectively. The destruction of mesothelial barrier increased, in similar range, both absorption and excretion component of the transport of urea, uric acid and albumin but not gentamycin. In the latter case, mesothelium injury enhanced peritoneal excretion by 86% and absorption by 162%. An asymmetry in gentamycin transport was observed which can be unfavourable for peritoneal dialysis patients.