L. Simon et al., EFFECT OF ANIMAL AGE ON THE UPTAKE OF LARGE PARTICULATES ACROSS THE EPITHELIUM OF THE RAT SMALL-INTESTINE, International journal of experimental pathology, 75(5), 1994, pp. 369-373
A quantitative investigation into the transfer of latex polystyrene. p
articles across the epithelium of the small intestine has been carried
out using male weanling, adult and aged Sprague-Dawley rats. Orally a
dministered polystyrene particles, 2 mu m in diamter, were transferred
from the lumen of the small intestine into the gut associated lymphoi
d tissues (Peyer's patches). No significant difference in the number o
f particles transported across the gut epithelium was detected between
animals of different age groups. The concentration of particles detec
ted in Peyer's patches excised from the proximal and distal regions of
the small intestine of particle-treated animals did not differ signif
icantly, except in aged rats. Particle concentration was significantly
higher in Peyer's patch tissue than in adjacent Peyer's patch-free ti
ssues of the small intestine in treated animals of all age groups. The
assay method described here may be used for quantitative investigatio
n of the transepithetial transport of large particulates.