ISSN:
1573-2568
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract In order to study morphologic events taking place during intestinal absorption of water and electrolytes, light and electron microscopic studies were performed in an in vivo preparation of rat ileum fixed during well-defined conditions of solute absorption. Water absorption was significantly greater (0.19±0.012 ml/cm/hr) in animals perfused intraluminally with isotonic saline than in mannitolperfused ones (0.04±0.015 ml/cm/hr). Structural alterations during water absorption consisted of dilatation of epithelial cell intercellular spaces, lymphatics, and capillaries. The changes were quantitated and shown to be significantly different when saline perfused animals were compared to the mannitol-perfused group. These morphologic observations and the histochemical localization of ATPase to the apical and lateral cell membranes satisfies some of the postulates of a serial membrane theory. The intercellular spaces appear to represent the second compartment, and the capillaries and lymphatics appear to represent the third compartment of the model. The exact role of the intestinal epithelial cell in fluid absorption and the site of Membrane A has not been determined.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02233453
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