Alterations in the intestinal microvillous surface area during the whole life span of the female rat ileum.

Abstract

The present EM morphometric analysis is a continuation of a series of studies in which the changes of the microvillous surface area of the small intestine was investigated in the course of the entire life span of the female rat. It was concluded from the present data that the alterations of the ileal microvillous surface area are more balanced in the young, pregnant, lactating, adult, old and senile animals than that was observed in the case of the duodenum and jejunum. Positive correlations were found between the parameters height and surface area and, density and surface area measures of the microvilli. Microvillous width and density revealed an inverse relationship mainly in the case of the young and adult animals.