Effect of starvation on the tissue composition of the small intestine in the rat

1. Inclusion of raw kidney bean (Phasealus vulgaris) proteins in the diet for rats was shown to affect the weight of some internal organs. Of these, in addition to the well-known hypertrophy of the pancreas attributable to dietary trypsin inhibitors, the observed atrophy of the thymus and the doubling in weight of the small intestine are related to the protein or lectin content of the bean diet, or both.2. Changes in tissue composition of the small intestine were also recorded. Its protein content increased by about 40–50% and carbohydrate content doubled suggesting the occurrence of increased mucinous glycoprotein secretion. Increased DNA content (by about 30–40 %) however also indicated mucosal hyperplasia.3. Changes were also observed in mineral content, urea concentration and some enzyme activities in sera and urine, possibly as a result of disturbances in systemic metabolism or hormone levels, or both.4. The results gave further support to previous suggestions that the oral toxicity of kidney-bean lectins involves local reactions in the small intestine in combination with their effects on the systemic immune system and general metabolism.

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Electron probe x-ray microanalysis and electron microscopy of amino acid absorption and transport by the small intestine: inhibition by chemical poisons and correlation to the elemental composition of the epithelial cells

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100142311 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 134-135

Author(s):

A. J. Tousimis

Keyword(s):

Small Intestine ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Elemental Composition ◽

Isotope Labeling ◽

Structural Components ◽

X Ray ◽

Human Small Intestine ◽

Transport Studies

The elemental composition of amino acids is similar to that of the major structural components of the epithelial cells of the small intestine and other tissues. Therefore, their subcellular localization and concentration measurements are not possible by x-ray microanalysis. Radioactive isotope labeling: I131-tyrosine, Se75-methionine and S35-methionine have been successfully employed in numerous absorption and transport studies. The latter two have been utilized both in vitro and vivo, with similar results in the hamster and human small intestine. Non-radioactive Selenomethionine, since its absorption/transport behavior is assumed to be the same as that of Se75- methionine and S75-methionine could serve as a compound tracer for this amino acid.

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The protease phenotype and crystalline nature of the granules of intraepithelial mast cells in Trichinella spiralis-infected mice

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100140464 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 818-819

Author(s):

D.S. Friend ◽

N. Ghildyal ◽

M.F. Gurish ◽

K.F. Austen ◽

R.L. Stevens

Keyword(s):

Small Intestine ◽

Mast Cells ◽

Epithelial Cells ◽

Lamina Propria ◽

Trichinella Spiralis ◽

Intestinal Epithelial ◽

Carboxypeptidase A ◽

C3h Mice ◽

Granule Morphology ◽

Crystalline Nature

Trichinella spiralis induces a profound mastocytosis and eosinophilia in the small intestine of the infected mouse. Mouse mast cells (MC) store in their granules various combinations of at least five chymotryptic chymases [designated mouse MC protease (mMCP) 1 to 5], two tryptic proteases designated mMCP-6 and mMCP-7 and an exopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A (mMC-CPA). Using antipeptide, protease -specific antibodies to these MC granule proteases, immunohistochemistry was done to determine the distribution, number and protease phenotype of the MCs in the small intestine and spleen 10 to >60 days after Trichinella infection of BALB/c and C3H mice. TEM was performed to evaluate the granule morphology of the MCs between intestinal epithelial cells and in the lamina propria (mucosal MCs) and in the submucosa, muscle and serosa of the intestine (submucosal MCs).As noted in the table below, the number of submucosal MCs remained constant throughout the study. In contrast, on day 14, the number of MCs in the mucosa increased ~25 fold. Increased numbers of MCs were observed between epithelial cells in the mucosal crypts, in the lamina propria and to a lesser extent, between epithelial cells of the intestinal villi.

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