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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

A Comparison of Mucosal Surface Area and Villous Histology in Small Intestines of the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) and the Mouse (Mus musculus)

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Author(s):
Zhang, Zhi-Qiang [1] ; Brun, Antonio [1, 2, 3] ; Price, Edwin R. [4] ; Cruz-Neto, Ariovaldo P. [5] ; Karasov, William H. [4] ; Caviedes-Vidal, Enrique [4, 1, 2, 3]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Inst Multidisciplinario Invest Biol San Luis, RA-5700 San Luis - Argentina
[2] Univ Nacl San Luis, Dept Bioquim & Ciencias Biol, RA-5700 San Luis - Argentina
[3] Univ Nacl San Luis, Lab Biol Prof E Caviedes Codelia, RA-5700 San Luis - Argentina
[4] Univ Wisconsin, Dept Forest & Wildlife Ecol, Madison, WI 53706 - USA
[5] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Zool, Inst Biociencias, BR-13506900 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Morphology; v. 276, n. 1, p. 102-108, JAN 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 3
Abstract

Studies on birds have led to the hypothesis that increased intestinal absorption between enterocytes (paracellular) evolved as a compensation for smaller intestinal size in fliers, which was perhaps selected to minimize the mass of digesta carried. This hypothesis predicts that bats will also exhibit relatively reduced intestinal size and high paracellular absorption, compared with nonflying mammals. Published studies on three bat species indicate relatively high paracellular absorption. One mechanism for increasing paracellular absorption per cm(2) small intestine (SI) is increased number of tight junctions (TJs) across which paracellular absorption occurs. To our knowledge, we provide the first comparative analysis of enterocyte size and number in flying and nonflying mammals. Intestines of insectivorous bats Tadarida brasiliensis were compared with Mus musculus using hematoxylin and eosin staining method. Bats had shorter and narrower SIs than mice, and after correction for body size difference by normalizing to mass(3/4), the bats had 40% less nominal surface area than the mouse, as predicted. Villous enhancement of surface area was 90% greater in the bat than in the mouse, mainly because of longer villi and a greater density of villi in bat intestines. Bat and mouse were similar in enterocyte diameter. Bats exceeded mice by 54.4% in villous area per cm length SI and by 95% in number of enterocytes per cm(2) of the nominal surface area of the SI. Therefore, an increased density of TJs per cm(2) SI may be a mechanistic explanation that helps to understand the high paracellular absorption observed in bats compared to nonflying mammals. J. Morphol. 276:102-108, 2015. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/04610-5 - Comparative analysis of the gastrointestnal traits and routes of nutrient absorption in bats and rodents: evidence for convergent adapation with birds?
Grantee:Ariovaldo Pereira da Cruz-Neto
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants