Transport of sodium fluorescein between the mucosal and muscular layers in man, possibly indicating functional serially‐coupled exchange vessels

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary. In sixteen patients subjected to intestinal surgery, the transport of sodium fluorescein (Na‐F) was measured between the mucosal and serosal‐muscular layers. Experiments were carried out in intestinal anastomosis by fluorescein flowmetry (FF). The blood‐flow index of the mucosal layer was about twice the serosal‐muscularis, per unit tissue volume. The temporal changes in fluorescence pattern from the two layers showed that more than 90% of Na‐F, eliminated from the mucosal layer, was transported to the serosal‐muscular layers. In six patients, in whom Na‐F was instilled intraluminarily, fluorescence was seen on the outside of the intestine after 3 min. However, when the circulation was stopped before Na‐F was instilled, no fluorescence was seen, this suggests that the transport was not only due to diffusion but also to convection. The results suggest that functional serially‐coupled exchange vessels may exist within the intestinal wall, and that Na‐F is transported both by convection and diffusion.