Ion transport across the chick ileum: a good model for transport studies

1. The young chick (5-8 days) has been found to be an excellent preparation for the study of transepithelial intestinal ion transport. Due to the thinness of the intestinal tissue, it is not necessary to remove the serosal layers (serosal membranes, circular, and longitudinal muscles), thus circumventing the problems inherent in "stripping" the tissue. 2. The intact chick ileum had a significantly greater short-circuit current (Isc) and lower resistance than did intact adult ileum and transport parameters remained stable over the 6 hr experimental period. 3. Compared to the adult tissue, unidirectional fluxes of Na and Cl were greater in the chick ileum. Net flux of Na (absorption) was about 3 times greater in the chick ileum and the flux was equivalent to the Isc, thus this preparation appears to be characterized by electrogenic Na absorption. 4. Several ileal preparations from day old chicks were studied over an 18 hr period and these preparations were found to remain viable for this period of time with the Isc at the end of 18 hr being nearly identical to that at 2 hr. 5. Besides the advantage of not having to strip the intestinal tissue, and the long-term viability of the tissue, the chick is very inexpensive and easy to obtain and maintain.