Figure 4.

HE-stained sections of mucosal explants cultured for 1 h in the absence (control) or presence of 2 mM or 10 mM of NaC/DDM, as described in Methods. The villus organization and epithelium were generally well preserved at 2 mM of both surfactants, although foci of exfoliation was occasionally observed (asterisk). At 10 mM, both NaC and DDM caused extensive denudation, particularly near the tips of the villi (arrows), whereas the epithelium along the sides of the villi and in the crypts were generally better preserved. Enterocytes (E) and lamina propria (LP) are indicated. Bars: 100 µm.