The Effects of Alterations in Villus Shape on the Intestinal Mucosal Surface of the Albino Rat; the Relationship between Mucosal Surface Area and the Crypts

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Abstract
The villi and crypts of the small intestine of the albino rat (Rattus norveigicus) were enumerated and measured at different ages from 2 wk to 8 mo. The number of villi increased up to the 3rd mo. of age and the number of crypts up to the 8th mo. In the proximal intestine, the mean length of the villus base increased up to the 5th mo. as ridge-shaped villi were formed. Villus height was greater proximally than distally, and this, and the crypt depth, remained constant from the end of the 1st mo. of age. The total villus circumference/unit area of intestine, and the villus circumference/crypt was the same proximally and distally, and was relatively constant after the 1st mo. of age. The total circumference of the crypt mouths/mm2 of intestine was the same proximally and distally and, at all ages, was greater than the total villus circumference. The villus surface area/mm2 of intestine, or per crypt, remained relatively constant after the 1st mo. and was greater proximally than distally, due only to the taller villi proximally. The change from finger-shaped to ridge-shaped villi did not affect the villus mucosal surface area. The changes in villus shape are probably not determined by differences in the rate of crypt cell production.