Changes in the pattern of intercellular transfer of lucifer yellow between villus epithelial cells during postnatal...

We demonstrate the pattern of intercellular transfer of Lucifer yellow between villus epithelial cells during postnatal development. Epithelial cells in all villi from newborn mice demonstrate high dye transfer efficiency. The efficiency of dye transfer decreases with the age of the mouse and with villus size, until in adult mice, dye transfer is observed only in what are presumably newly forming villi. We suggest that the development of an osmolality gradient in taller villi, a result of sodium pumps and a countercurrent multiplier, may be responsible for the changes in the pattern of dye transfer observed.