Tight junction regulation during impaired ion transport in blind loops of rat jejunum

Epithelial cell tight junction structure in self-filling blind loops of rat jejunum, a model for blind loop syndrome in humans, was analyzed morphometrically along the crypt-villus axis. In control jejunum, the number of strands and junctional depth, including meshwork depth, decreased from crypt to villus tip. In the blind loop, aberrant strands appeared below the meshwork, particularly in crypt cells. Consequently, total junctional depth was greater than in controls. Furthermore, strand number and junctional meshwork depth were increased in blind loops at the villus tip. It is that site along the crypt-villus axis which showed the most shallow junction in control jejunum. This structural change is paralleled by a three-fold increase in epithelial resistance as previously measured by alternating current impedance analysis. Relative Na over Cl permeability (PNa:Cl) was obtained from dilution potential measurements. PNa:Cl was 1.50:1 in control jejunum and 1.35:1 in the blind loop (n.s.). Considering the cation selectivity of the tight junction, the increase in epithelial resistance in blind loops cannot be attributed to a collapse of the lateral intercellular space but is due to changes in tight junctional permeability resulting from structural alteration. The blind loop syndrome represents a further example of diminished epithelial ion transport and concomitant decrease in tight junction permeability, thus supporting the general concept of regulation of the tight junction in response to active transport activity.