title: A modified device for the differentiated study of intestinal transfer in isolated intestinal segments from mice and suckling rats in vitro.
abstract: An increasing number of mice with genetic variation of intestinal transfer properties is becoming available. A luminal perfusion system for small intestinal segments, therefore, was adapted for the use in mice and rat pups to investigate longitudinal differences in intestinal drug and toxin transfer and to explore the adaptation of transfer properties during maturation under standardized conditions in vitro. At present, cell cultures are inadequate for this goal. The perfusator consists of an upper reservoir and a lower moist chamber to accommodate the intestinal segment. The luminal perfusion fluid is oxygenized and circulated by a gas lift. It is directed through the segment by two three-way taps. For safe and easy decontamination of radioactive substrates, the system is made entirely of glass. To perfuse fragile segments from small animals such as mice and rat pups in vitro, the perfusion pressure had to be reduced to 15 cm H2O column. Therefore, the design of the perfusator was changed, and the gas lift and the three-way taps were moved to the side. With segments from adult rats, the modified perfusor yielded the same transfer data for 59Fe, glucose, and water as did the standard device. Experiments with proximal and distal segments from mice and rat pups showed a longitudinal pattern of adaptation during maturation as well as due to iron deficiency that was in accordance with expectations extrapolated from literature.
authors.affiliation: Walther Straub-Institute for Pharmakology und Toxikology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schümann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hunder
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D004386:Duodenum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007501:Iron / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007504:Iron Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010477:Perfusion; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007504:Iron Radioisotopes; D014867:Water; D007501:Iron; D005947:Glucose