Fig. 8. Histology of the mucosal epithelium of snakes fed once a week. (A) Methacrylate-embedded section of the small intestine; Methylene Blue/Thionine stain. Scale bar, 50µm (same magnification as Figs 6A and 7A). The mucosal epithelium has an intermediate configuration compared with Figs 6A and 7A with two layers of nuclei, few lipid droplets, reduced lacteals and reduced numbers of capillaries. (B) Histology as in A (same magnification as Fig. 6B). Scale bar, 25µm. (C) Low-power electron micrograph of transitional epithelium. Note the small lipid droplets (arrows) in the apical part of the enterocytes. Scale bar, 5 µm. (D) High-power electron micrograph of microvilli. Compare with Fig. 6D, which was taken at same magnification. Scale bar, 0.5µm.