Pathophysiology of Acute Nonspecific Diarrhea. Uptake of Exotoxins and Other Macromolecules and Their Effect on the Intestine
Abstract
Utilizing horseradish peroxidase (molecular weight 40,000) as a model tracer, we have been investigating macromolecular transport in the small intestine. Light and electron microscopy have shown that the tracer enters absorptive cells and after passing through a system of canalicular, vesicular, and vacuolar structures enters the intercellular space and lamina propria. The relative capacity of jejunum and ileum to transmit intact macromolecules was evaluated through use of everted gut sacs incubated in vitro with their mucosal surface exposed to solutions of the tracer. These studies showed the model protein to be transmitted to a much greater extend by sacs prepared from jejunum as compared with ileum. In vivo experiments following cannulation of the main mesenteric lymphatic vessel have shown that small but significant amounts of the tracer can be rapidly transmitted across the small bowel into its lymphatic efflux.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 13, 1970
- Accession Number
- AD0715731
Entities
People
- Kurt Julius Isselbacher
- Richard Cornell
- W. Allan Walker
Organizations
- Massachusetts General Hospital