Structure and Function of Enterocyte in Intrauterine Growth Retarded Pig Neonates

Figure 2

Representative SEM micrographs of the villi in the distal jejunum of IUGR (a, c) and NBW (b, d) piglets on postnatal day 7. The enterocytes of IUGR piglets show numerous small, bubble-like empty spaces (traces of small-size vacuoles) in the upper part of the enterocyte body; however, no traces of large-size vacuoles typical for foetal-type enterocytes are observed (a, c). The micrographs from NBW piglets (b, d) show villi covered by mature enterocytes, no empty spaces of neither large-size nor small-size vacuoles. Horizontal bars depict the scale.

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