Quarterly Journal of Microscopical Science, Vol s3-97, 199-203, Copyright © 1956 by Company of Biologists

Further Observations on the Histochemistry of Fat Absorption in the Small Intestine of the Rat

¹ Department of Anatomy, St. Thomas' Hospital Medical School, London, S.E. 1

Studies have been made of the small intestine of rats previously fed with triolein. A previous description of the location of the lipid and phospholipid has been confirmed by using Sudan black and the acid haematein test. In addition histochemical tests have been applied to detect neutral fat and fatty acid. The lipid in the free border of the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane consisted of fatty acid and probably neutral fat, which would support the belief that when neutral fat is absorbed some of it is unhydrolysed. Additional evidence for this is provided by the fact that neutral fat could also be detected between the lateral parts of the cells. Occasionally fatty acid was also detectable in this location. Variable proportions of neutral fat, fatty acid, and phospholipid were to be found inside the epithelial cells and it appeared possible that there was a direct relationship between the amounts of neutral fat and phospholipid present.