Mucosal Surface Areas and Villous Morphology of the Small Intestine of Small Mammals: Functional Interpretations

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Abstract
Mucosal surface areas of the small intestine were determined for eight species of small mammals ranging over three trophic levels. Greatest mucosal surface area per body weight ratios (SA/B Wt) were found for Blarina brevicauda and Eptesicus fuscus, both strict carnivores. Smallest SA/B Wt ratios were found for Microtus pennsylvanicus and Microtus ochrogaster, both strict herbivores. Omnivorous forms, Zapus hudsonius, Peromyscus leucopus, Mus musculus, and Peromyscus maniculatus, possessed SA/B Wt ratios of intermediate magnitude, increasing in that order. Linear gradients along the length of the small intestine for the mucosal surface area per serosal area ratio (Ra) and the mucosal surface area per centimeter serosal length ratio (Ma) showed a negative slope for Ra and Ma distinctly less (in absolute terms) for M. pennsylvanicus than for the other species. The negative slopes for Ra and Ma were greatest for E. fuscus. Villous size and shape is described.

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