title: Even an old technique is suitable in the molecular world of science: the everted sac preparation turns 60 years old.
abstract: An old proverb states "necessity is the mother of invention." This certainly holds true in science as one pursues research questions. Experimental techniques have evolved as scientists have asked more specific research questions. Indeed, techniques such as the Ussing chamber, the perfused renal tubule preparation, patch-clamp, polymerase chain reaction, and site-directed mutagenesis have been developed over the past 60 years. However, sometimes, simple techniques may be useful and still very informative, and this certainly applies to intestinal physiology. Indeed, Gerald Wiseman and Thomas Hastings Wilson described the intestinal everted sac preparation some 60 years ago. Since then, this technique has been used for numerous research purposes including determining ion, amino acid, water and solute transport across the intestinal epithelium; and drug metabolism, absorption, and interactions in pharmaceutical/pharmacological research and even in education. This article provides a historical review of the development of the in vitro intestinal preparation that led to the everted sac preparation and its use in science.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kirk L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: everted sac; intestinal physiology; ion transport; solute transport