Fat Absorption in Rats with an Intestinal Blind Segment

Abstract

A blind self-filling segment was made on the jejunum of rats. The animals were sacrificed 1 hr after a single intragastric instillation of corn oil. The epithelial cells at different levels of the small intestine were studied in the electron microscope, and the fat droplets within the epithelium were counted. No morphological changes indicating a toxic effect on the cells were found. The fat content of the epithelial cells was significantly reduced in the blind segment. In the intestine distal to the blind segment the fat content was also lower in the control animals, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Key-words:

• Jejunum
• blind loop syndrome
• fat absorption
• microscopy, electron microscopy