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Ultrastructure of the small intestinal epithelium of the developing pig foetus

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Summary

The intestinal epithelium of the developing pig foetus was studied employing electron microscopy, and included foetuses with crown to rump (C-R) lengths from 1.5 to 25 cm, corresponding to approximate foetal ages of 3–14 weeks.

Marked changes in gross, microscopic and ultrastructural morphology were observed. The primitive-gut epithelium was multilayered, but became a one-layered epithelium in foetuses of approximately 8–10 cm in C-R length.

The structural differentiation of the intestinal epithelium begins at an early stage of development. The first steps in this differentiation process are the most prominent: undifferentiated cells with large nuclei, few mitochondria and membranous components are replaced by cells with reduced nuclear volumes, more numerous cytoplasmic structures, and with microvilli developing in the apical parts.

A comparison of the results with observations in other species revealed that the differentiation of microvilli occurred earlier in the pig than in the rat, mouse and chick, which are the only species previously studied in detail in these respects.

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This investigation was supported by grants from the Swedish Natural Science Research Council and the Foundation of Dir. A. Påhlsson, Malmö.

The skilful technical assistance of Mrs. Anna-Greta Petersen and Mrs. Marie Adler-Maihofer is gratefully acknowledged.

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Karlsson, B.W. Ultrastructure of the small intestinal epithelium of the developing pig foetus. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 135, 253–264 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00519037

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00519037

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