Role of Mechanical Stimulation in Maintaining Small Intestinal Mass in Thiry-Vella Loops in the Rat

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Abstract
Two 10 cm long Thiry-Vella (TV) loops were constructed in each of 20 rats. An elastic-plastic device, which served as a source of continuous intraluminal mechanical stimulation, was fixed in 1 of the loops. Two wk later the jejunum, ileum and both TV-loops were biopsied. Wet and dry weight per 3 cm intestine, villus height and muscular thickness were determined. Both TV loops were atrophic, but the wet and dry weight and muscular thickness were significantly greater in the mechanically stimulated ones. The villus height and was not significantly effected by the mechanical stimulation. The effect of mechanical stimulation on the food deprived small intestine was limited to a certain extent of muscular hypertrophy resulting in a lesser degree of atrophy expressed in terms of wet and dry weight of the intestine.

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