INTEGRATION OF INTESTINAL STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND MICROVASCULAR REGULATION

Without an increase in blood flow to provide additional oxygen, intest inal ab sorption of nutrients cannot proceed. Studies of the intestina l microvascalar structure and distribution of resistances indicated th at most of the microvascular regulation must occur outside the mucosal tissues. This requires a communication system from the mucosa to resi stance vessels unlike that of any other organ. The various mechanisms involved and their communication from mucosal to arteriolar cells has required an integrated study of intestinal structure, physiology, and microvascular regulation. The results of this analysis using diverse a pproaches have revealed some of the major physical and cellular mechan isms that couple intestinal absorption and microvascular function.