Cell apical surface area in enterocytes from chicken small and large intestine during development

The absorptive surface of epithelial cells from chicken small and large intestine was studied at the day of hatch (1 d group) and at 2 and 6 wk after hatch. The segments considered were duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum (proximal, medial, and distal regions), and rectum. The length, diameter, and density of microvilli as well as cell apical diameter were measured in tip-villous enterocytes by transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained showed that during development: 1) microvillus length remained constant in duodenum and jejunum and decreased in the other segments; 2) microvillus diameter increased only in the jejunum and the rectum; 3) microvillus density increased in duodenum, ileum, distal cecum, and rectum (especially from 1 d to 2 wk) and did not change in the other segments; 4) cell apical diameter did not change; 5) apical surface area increased both in the duodenum (2nd to 6th wk) and in the jejunum (1 d to 2 wk) but did not change in the ileum. In the proximal-medial cecum and in the rectum there was a decrease in apical surface, whereas no changes were observed in distal cecum. Results indicated that microvillus length and density are the variables that best explain the changes observed in apical surface that occurred during development.