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Ex Vivo Intestinal Sacs to Assess Mucosal Permeability in Models of Gastrointestinal Disease
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Ex Vivo Intestinal Sacs to Assess Mucosal Permeability in Models of Gastrointestinal Disease

Published on: February 9, 2016

Mucosal mast cells and developmental changes in gastric absorption

A G Catto-Smith1, J L Ripper

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

The American Journal of Physiology
|January 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Gastric mast cells degranulate during rat postnatal development, increasing stomach permeability and macromolecule absorption. This suggests mast cell activity influences neonatal gut barrier function.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Neonatal gastrointestinal development involves complex physiological changes.
  • Gastric mucosal mast cells play roles in immune responses and gut function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate gastric mucosal mast cell degranulation during postnatal development in rats.
  • To correlate mast cell activity with gastric electrical parameters, permeability, and macromolecular absorption.

Main Methods:

  • Histological analysis and measurement of rat mast cell protease II levels.
  • Assessment of short-circuit current, transepithelial conductance, and permeability in voltage-clamped stomachs.
  • Evaluation of macromolecular uptake and in vitro mast cell degranulation effects.

Main Results:

  • Mast cell degranulation peaked around days 15-17 post-birth.
  • Gastric permeability and conductance transiently increased at 17 days, correlating with mast cell degranulation.
  • Macromolecular uptake was higher in younger rats (10-15 days).

Conclusions:

  • Gastric mucosal mast cells degranulate during normal postnatal development.
  • The neonatal rat stomach exhibits increased permeability and macromolecule absorption.
  • Mast cell degranulation during development may impact gastric mucosal permeability.

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