Comparison of the intravenous and intraperitoneal routes of administration of tritiated thymidine in studies of cell production in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat.

Incorporation of 3H-Thymidine into DNA-synthesizing cells of the gastrointestinal tract of the rat was examined following administration of the isotope by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes. Estimates of whole tissue incorporation expressed as DPM/mg dry weight and of proliferating cells expressed as DPM/crypt or gland in the different segments of the gut indicated no differences in the degree of 3H-TdR uptake into DNA following intraperitoneal or intravenous routes of administration. The possibility of misdirected I.P. injections was examined following injection of 3H-TdR into the cecum or bladder. DPM/mg wet weight of gastrointestinal tissues indicated reduction in the uptake of 3H-TdR into DNA of intestinal tissues following intracecal and intrabladder administration of 3H-Tdr. The intraperitoneal route of administration of 3H-TdR appears to be equally effective in the distribution of the isotope into different segments of the gut when compared to the intravenous route and is a more convenient method in studies of cell production in the gastrointestinal tract of the rat.

Late ultrastructural effects of heavy ions and gamma irradiation in the gastrointestinal tract of the mouse.

The irradiated gastrointestinal tract of LAF1 mice was examined one year following a single dose (1000 rad) of either 12C heavy ions or 60Co gamma rays. Qualitative ultrastructural analysis of the gastrointestinal tract of mice exposed to heavy ions or gamma irradiation did not show any discernible differences. In the stomach of irradiated mice, parietal cells contained numerous lysosomes; the gastric chief cells occasionally contained myelin figures. The epithelial cells of the small intestine, especially jejunum and ileum, showed several changes: (1) increased vacuolation was seen both inter- and intra-cellularly, (2) epithelial cell projections penetrated the basal lamina and were in contact with underlying mesenchymal cells, (3) occasional Paneth cells contained intracellular vacuoles consisting of fibrillar and granular material. In the large intestine occasional signs of degeneration were observed. Qualitative analysis of stromal elements of the gut in irradiated mice indicated the presence of damage to capillary endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and some nerve processes. The amount of basement membrane (BM) around capillaries and small vessels was increased; the same phenomenon was observed to affect the nerve processes, but with less severity. Quantitative analysis of the basement membrane thickness around capillaries in irradiated vs. control mice showed significant differences. Basement membrane thickness around capillaries in the gastric mucosa and duodenum did not differ significantly in any of the treatment groups. In jejunum, the gamma treated animals exhibited significantly higher BM thickness when compared to unirradiated controls. In ileum, only 12C-heavy ion treated animals showed thicker BM when compared to their respective controls. In colon, both 12C- and 60Co-treated animals showed increased BM thickness when compared to controls.

Re-evaluation of the surgical anatomy of the mesocaval shunt.

On the basis of these findings, we have concluded that the surgeon contemplating the construction of a mesocaval shunt can expect to find ideal or nearly ideal conditions in approximately one third of the population. Another two thirds can be expected to present anatomical variations which may complicate the procedure in varying degrees. In approximately one tenth of the cases, the construction of a shunt would probably prove impossible.