title: Comparison of the metabolic activities of enterocytes isolated from different regions of the small intestine of the neonate.
abstract: Enterocytes were isolated from the jejunum and ileum of the neonatal (12-day-old) rat by vibrating everted intestinal segments in buffered saline containing EDTA. The isolated cells appeared morphologically normal when examined microscopically, retaining their in vivo shape and internal structure. Enzyme analysis revealed that over 80% of the total gut lactase activity was associated with the isolated enterocytes. During incubation at 37 degrees C the cells maintained their structure for 30-60 min and consumed oxygen and produced lactate at a constant rate for at least 45 min. On the basis of these tests it was concluded that the method yielded large numbers of enterocytes which were able to be maintained in simple media without significant loss of structure or function for at least 45 min at 37 degrees C. Comparison of the metabolic activities of cells isolated from the two regions suggests that ileal enterocytes maintain the greater functional integrity, maintaining an intact plasma membrane for longer periods and having higher respiratory and glycolytic activities.
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D007082:Ileum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007773:Lactates / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019344:Lactic Acid; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase