Applicability of the Ussing chamber technique to permeability determinations in functionally distinct regions of the gastrointestinal tract in the rat.

Background: Ussing chambers are commonly utilized for in vitro investigations into gastrointestinal permeability. However, their sensitivity and applicability to the small intestine have not been well characterized.

Methods: In order to investigate the effects of experimentally induced damage and the relative contribution of the mucosa and muscularis externa layers to transmural permeability in the small intestine, stomach and colon, normal rat intestinal tissues were mounted in Ussing chambers with or without removal of the muscularis externa or mucosal layers.

IGFBP mRNA expression in small intestine of rat during postnatal development.

In contrast to the adult gut, the immature intestine is refractory to subcutaneously infused insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). IGF binding protein (IGFBP) mRNA expression was characterized in intestinal tissues from 6-, 19-, and 90-day-old rats to determine if changes in local expression could account for this age-related change in IGF-I potency. For all age groups, IGFBP-3 to -6, but not IGFBP-1 or -2, were detected by Northern blot analysis.

Systemically but not orogastrically delivered insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and long [Arg3]IGF-I stimulates intestinal disaccharidase activity in two age groups of suckling rats.

The growth mitogenic properties of IGF-I on tissues of the gastrointestinal tract are well established; however, IGF effects on enzyme maturation are less clear. To test whether IGF-I peptide administration stimulates disaccharidase activity, we administered IGF-I or the more potent analog, long [Arg3]IGF-I, at doses ranging between 2 and 12.5 micrograms g-1 d-1 to suckling Wistar rat pups by either continuous s.

Transforming growth factor-beta levels in maternal milk and expression in postnatal rat duodenum and ileum.

After birth, the gastrointestinal tract of the neonate is exposed to food and bacterial and environmental antigens. Maternal milk components may play a role in regulation of mucosal immune activity to luminal antigens. In this study we determine the ontogeny of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1-producing cells in the rat pup small intestine and assess maternal milk concentrations of TGF-beta.

Systemic infusion of IGF-I or LR(3)IGF-I stimulates visceral organ growth and proliferation of gut tissues in suckling rats.

This study describes developmental changes in gastrointestinal response to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) peptide administration. Neonatal rats were infused with IGF-I or long [Arg3]IGF-I (LR(3)IGF-I) for 6.5 days starting on day 6 or 12 postpartum.