Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Intestinal diffusion barrier: unstirred water layer or membrane surface mucous coat?

K W Smithson, D B Millar, L R Jacobs

    Science (New York, N.Y.)
    |December 11, 1981
    PubMed
    Summary

    The small intestine

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Corrigendum to "A physiologically relevant dose of 50% egg-phosphatidylcholine is sufficient in improving gut permeability while attenuating immune cell dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet in male Wistar rats" [J Nutr 153 (2023) 3131-3143].

    The Journal of nutrition·2023
    Same author

    FIVE CASES OF STRICTURE OF THE RECTUM.

    The British journal of venereal diseases·2011
    Same author

    Short Notes and Clinical Cases: A CASE OF GLIOMA IN THE LUMBOSACRAL REGION.

    The Journal of neurology and psychopathology·2011
    Same author

    An Investigation Into the Incidence of Hernia in Children.

    Archives of disease in childhood·2010
    Same author

    Nonlinear-optical studies of molybdenum metal organics.

    Optics letters·2009
    Same author

    CMOs: the new generation.

    Physician executive·2009

    Area of Science:

    • Gastroenterology
    • Cell Biology
    • Biophysics

    Background:

    • The small intestine facilitates nutrient absorption through membrane-bound enzymes.
    • Understanding the diffusion barrier is crucial for nutrient uptake.
    • Previous models underestimated the barrier's complexity.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the dimensions of the small intestinal diffusion barrier.
    • To investigate the role of the mucous coat in nutrient diffusion.
    • To reconcile discrepancies in diffusion barrier models.

    Main Methods:

    • Kinetic analysis of substrate hydrolysis by integral surface membrane enzymes.
    • Measurement of diffusion barrier dimensions in rat intestine.
    • Iodine-125 labeling of surface membrane proteins after mucoprotein coat removal.

    Main Results:

    • The unstirred water layer's calculated thickness was incompatible with rat intestine dimensions.
    • The mucoprotein surface coat was identified as a significant diffusion barrier.
    • Integral surface membrane proteins were inaccessible without removing the surface coat.

    Conclusions:

    • The mucoprotein surface coat is a critical diffusion barrier for nutrients.
    • This barrier influences nutrient access to digestive and transport sites.
    • Accurate models of intestinal absorption must account for the surface coat.

    Related Experiment Videos