The effect of aspirin on mouse small-intestinal mucosa. Ultrastructural studies.

The ultrastructural alterations in the small-intestinal mucosa of mice given aspirin for five weeks were observed by light microscopy and scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. The SEM examination revealed that the most affected areas were the duodenum and jejunum, which showed villous disarray, shortened microvilli with damaged tips, erosions, and an increased number of goblet cells. Similar findings were also observed with TEM.