Abstract
Mucus, a hydrated complex consisting mainly of glycoproteins, forms a layer over the epithelial surface of the gastrointestinal tract. The usual preparative procedures for histological and scanning electron microscopic examination of the gut result in the loss or distortion of this mucus layer. Careful evaluation of two new methods reported to stabilize the mucus layer showed that acrolein vapor did not provide adequate fixation, but application of heat-inactivated antiserum raised in rabbits against rat colon mucus reliably preserved a continuous layer closely adherent to the epithelium. This stabilized layer is continuous with the mucus in the colonic crypts.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Rozee KR, Cooper D, Lam K, Costerton JW: Microbial flora of the mouse ileum mucus layer and epithelial surface. Appl Environ Microbiol 43:1451–1463, 1982
Garland CD, Nash GC, McMeekin TA: The preservation of mucus and surface-associated microorganisms using acrolein vapor fixation. J Microsc 128:307–312, 1982
Davis CP: Preservation of gastrointestinal bacteria and their microenvironmental associations in rats by freezing. Appl Environ Microbiol 31:304–312, 1976
Traynor OJ, Costa NL, Blumgart LH, Wood B: A scanning electron microscopy study of ultrastructural changes in the colonic mucosa of patients with large bowel tumors. Br J Surg 68:701–704, 1981
Traynor OJ, Wood CB, Costa N: Ultrastructural alterations in the colonic mucus layer during carcinogenesis: A scanning electron microscopy study. Adv Exp Med Biol 144:225–229, 1981
Hurn BAL, Chantler SM: Production of reagent antibodies. Methods Enzymol 70:104–142, 1980
Markwell MAK, Haas SM, Bieber LL, Tolbert NE: A modification of the Lowry procedure to simplify protein determination in membrane and lipoprotein samples. Anal Biochem 87:206–210, 1978
Oudin J: Immunochemical analysis by antigen-antibody precipitation in gels. Methods Enzymol 70:166–168, 1980
Wheeler EE, Gavin JB, Seelye RN: Freeze-drying from tertiary butanol in the preparation of endocardium for scanning electron microscopy. Stain Technol 50:331–337, 1975
Sage MD, Gavin JB, Herdson PB: Scanning electron microscopy of lateral border zones of regional infarcts in isolated rabbit hearts. J Mol Cell Cardiol 14(Suppl 2):12, 1982
Mikuni-Takagaki Y, Hotta K: Characterization of peptic inhibitory activity associated with sulphated glycoprotein isolated from gastric mucosa. Biochim Biophys Acta 548:288–297, 1979
Lee SP, Lim TH, Pybus J, Clarke AC: Tissue distribution of orally administered bismuth in the rat. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 7:319–324, 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bollard, J.E., Vanderwee, M.A., Smith, G.W. et al. Preservation of mucusIn situ in rat colon. Digest Dis Sci 31, 1338–1344 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01299812
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01299812