Effects of intraluminal hydrostatic pressure on L-methionine absorption in the obstructed small intestine of the rat

Gradients in the in vivo intestinal stem cell compartment and their in vitro recapitulation in mimetic platforms

Intestinal tissue, and specifically its mucosal layer, is a complex and gradient-rich environment. Gradients of soluble factor (BMP, Noggin, Notch, Hedgehog, and Wnt), insoluble extracellular matrix proteins (laminins, collagens, fibronectin, and their cognate receptors), stromal stiffness, oxygenation, and sheer stress induced by luminal fluid flow at the crypt-villus axis controls and supports healthy intestinal tissue homeostasis. However, due to current technological challenges, very few of these features have so far been included in in vitro intestinal tissue mimetic platforms. In this review, the tightly defined and dynamic microenvironment of the intestinal tissue is presented in detail. Additionally, the authors introduce the current state-of-the-art intestinal tissue mimetic platforms, as well as the design drawbacks and challenges they face while attempting to capture the complexity of the intestinal tissue's physiology. Finally, the compositions of an "idealized" mimetic system is presented to guide future developmental efforts.

Experimental orthotopic small bowel transplantation: a revised model

Small bowel transplantation is emerging as an alternative treatment for end-stage intestinal failure. To date, immunological and technical problems are still hampering clinical success. Functional experimental small bowel transplantation models have traditionally been plagued with a high technical complication rate. The purpose of this study was to describe in detail the harvesting and transplantation procedure in rats. In this paper the technical aspects of the one-stage, isogenic orthotopic partial small bowel transplantation model with systemic drainage are illustrated. Because of the achieved acceptable survival rate and the favourable functional outcome, the model is considered reliable and reproducible.

Relationship between distention and absorption in rat intestine. II. Effects of volume and flow rate on transport

Studies in intact animals have shown that intestinal solute absorption may be enhanced with increasing intraluminal volume and flow rate, perhaps because of increases in functional absorptive surface area or perturbation of unstirred layers. We used single-pass perfusions of rat ileum, performed by simultaneously infusing and withdrawing at equal rates, to determine the separate effects of volume and flow rate on solute absorption at pressures between 3.0 and 12.5 cmH2O. Distention enhanced the absorption of passive probes (3H2O, urea), had no effect on the absorption of solutes transported by carrier mechanisms (D-glucose, L-alanine), and led to decreases in the net absorption of sodium and water whenever intraluminal pressure exceeded 10 cmH2O. Increasing flow rate enhanced the absorption of both glucose and 3H2O. However, the effects of increasing flow rate and distention on 3H2O were not additive. In the presence of higher filling volume, faster flow rate led to no further increases in 3H2O absorption; vice versa, at faster flow rate, no further increases in 3H2O absorption were noted when luminal volume was increased. We conclude that increased intraluminal volume enhances the absorption of solutes transported by passive but not carrier-mediated mechanisms, perhaps via augmentation of functional absorptive surface area. Increased flow rate and volume may increase the absorption of passively absorbed probes, in part, by a similar mechanism.