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Untersuchungen zur Ultrastruktur des Dünndarms keimfrei aufgezogener FW 49-Ratten

1. Epitheliale Befunde unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Paneth-Zellen

Investigations on the ultrastructure of the small intestine of FW 49-rats reared in germfree conditions

1. Epithelial findings with special reference to Paneth cells

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Summary

The present study reports light and electron microscope findings in the enteroepithelial system of germfree rats. Studies were made on the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum), the cecum and the colon ascendens of FW 49-rats reared in germfree conditions at the age of 10, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days and one mother rat. The postnatal maturation of the mucosal villi and crypts is complete by about the 21st day of their lives. Up to this time the essential baso-apical differentiation of the enterocytes is in progress. The ratio of villous height to cryptal depth is distinctly higher in rats reared in germfree conditions than in conventional animals. The height of the enterocytes is about 40±2 µm more than comparable mean values in conventional rats.

The main feature of the ultrastructure is a considerable meander-like interlock of the lateral cellular membrane of enterocytes. Generally the basal part of intercellular spaces is widely expanded. Maculae adhaerentes of the cecum and the colon are extremely well developed. Resorbent cells are connected with cecal distension or with pronounced intestinal filling, mostly at the bottom of the crypts.

Paneth cells are abundantly filled with degeneratively changed granules. Output of granules does not take place. The ultrastructure of Paneth cells indicates a lack of exogenous functional stimulation.

Interepithelial lymphocytes are conspicuously rare, while eosinophil granulocytes are rather more frequent.

The findings in the entero-epithelial system do not show any qualitative differences from those in conventional animals. The purely quantitative differences are obviously due to the absence of microbial intestinal flora.

Zusammenfassung

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird über licht- und elektronemikroskopische Befunde am entero-epithelialen System keimfreier Ratten berichtet. Untersucht wurden Dünndarm (Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum), Coecum und Colon ascendens von keimfrei aufgezogenen FW 49-Ratten im Alter von 10, 14, 21, 28 und 35 Tagen sowie von einem ausgewachsenen Muttertier. Die postnatale Ausreifung der Mucosazotten und -krypten ist etwa mit dem 21. Lebenstag abgeschlossen. Bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt vollzieht sich auch die wesentliche baso-apikale Differenzierung der Enterocyten. Der Quotient aus Zottenhöhe und Kryptentiefe liegt bei keimfreien Ratten (Q=6−8) deutlich über dem konventioneller Tiere. Auch die Höhe der Enterocyten liegt mit 40±2 µ über vergleichbaren Mittelwerten herkömmlicher Ratten.

Ultrastrukturell findet man vor allem eine starke mäanderartige Verfingerung der lateralen enterocytären Zellgrenzen. Dabei ist der basale Anteil des Intercellularraumes in der Regel stark erweitert. Im Coecum und Colon sind die Maculae adhaerentes überaus kräftig entwickelt. In Verbindung mit der Coecumdistension bzw. der prallen Darmfüllung sind resorbierende Zellen vorwiegend im Kryptengrund zu finden.

Paneth-Zellen sind prall mit degenerativ veränderten Granula angefüllt. Eine Granulaausschleusung erfolgt nicht. Die Ultrastruktur der Paneth-Zellen deutet auf eine fehlende „exogene“ Funktionsstimulation.

Interepitheliale Lymphocyten sind auffallend spärlich, etwas häufiger finden sich interepithelial gelegene eosinophile Granulocyten.

Die Befunde am entero-epithelialen System lassen insgesamt keine qualitativen Unterschiede zu konventionellen Tieren erkennen. Die rein quantitativen Variabilitäten sind offenbar Folge der fehlenden mikrobiellen Darmbesiedlung.

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  1. Pathologisches Institut der Universität Hamburg, Germany

    Herwart F. Otto & Ingelis Lewerenz

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  1. Herwart F. Otto
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Mit dankenswerter Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Otto, H.F., Lewerenz, I. Untersuchungen zur Ultrastruktur des Dünndarms keimfrei aufgezogener FW 49-Ratten. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 360, 235–251 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00542983

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