SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF THE JEJUNUM IN CHILDREN WITH PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION

Samples of jejunum from seven children dying from severe oedematous ma lnutrition were fixed with intralumenal glutaraldehyde in combination with external immersion, using a rapid autopsy protocol. Selected area s were post-fixed in osmium tetroxide, dehydrated with an ethanol seri es and critical point dried. After mounting on aluminium stubs, specim ens were sputter-coated with a thin layer of gold and palladium. Scann ing electron microscopy showed patterns ranging from subtotal villous atrophy, through partial villous atrophy with low ridges, to longer, t aller ridges with cerebriform convolutions. In one case, villous heigh t had been interpreted as normal on light microscopy. The scanning ele ctron microscope revealed that the mucosa in this case was composed of ridges and leaf forms. Processing for scanning electron microscopy is simple. The specimens can be viewed and photographed in a relatively short time. In addition, the three-dimensional record provides clarifi cation of ambiguities which often arise from routine histological sect ions.