Functional and histological injury to intestinal mucosa produced by hypertonicity

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Abstract
Solutions of glucose, mannitol, urea, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) in isotonic NaCl were placed in 8-cm long jejunal or ileal loops of rats with intact blood supply. The incubated solution was removed after 15 min. and replaced with fresh material for 6 consecutive periods. Isotonic NaCl containing 14 mosmols/l glucose showed uniform absorption of glucose, water, and Na over the 90 min. of study. At the end of 6 study periods, the mucosa was intact to light microscopy. When 550 mosmols/l of mannitol, urea, or PEG were added to the above-mentioned solution it resulted in impairment of glucose absorption with a net increase in its luminal content and a histological injury to the surface epithelium of the intestinal mucosa. Similar results were found in both jejunum and ileum. These studies demonstrate an injury both to the glucose-absorping mechanism and to the blood-luminal barrier to glucose diffusion.