Ultrastructure of the absorptive cells in the small intestine of the rat during starvation.

The ultrastructure of the absorptive cells in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum after 7, 14 and 21 days of starvation was investigated using rats aged from 12 to 18 months weighing about 500 g. In the basal cytoplasm of the absorptive cells (in the duodenum and ileum of 21-day-starved rats and the jejunum of 14- and 21-day-starved rats), the following changes were found: atrophied mitochondrion-like bodies, small vesicles, a short and sparse rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and a lack of density in a portion of the cytoplasm. Moreover, many autolysosomes of various sizes and shapes were encountered in the basal cytoplasm; occasionally these elements accumulated and appeared to fuse to one another. In contrast, in the apical cytoplasm of absorptive cells in the intestine of starved rats, the ultrastructure was similar to that of control rats. It was considered that the apical cytoplasm of the absorptive cells in the starved rat intestine might be preserved as long as possible during starvation in order to absorb nutrients when they become available again.