Fig. 7. Histology of the mucosal epithelium of fasting snakes. (A)
Methacrylate-embedded section of the small intestine; Methylene Blue/Thionine
stain. Scale bar, 50µm (same magnification as
Fig. 6A). The mucosal
epithelium is a typical pseudostratified transitional epithelium. Note that no
lacteals or lipid droplets can be seen and the capillaries are small and
empty. (B) Low-power electron micrograph of enterocytes. An amoeboid cell can
be seen in the lower half of the image (asterisk). Scale bar, 2µm. (C)
High-power electron micrograph of microvilli. Compare with
Fig. 6D, which was taken at the
same magnification. Scale bar, 0.5µm. (D) High-power electron micrograph of
enterocyte membrane forming typical folds (arrow) of spare membrane. Scale
bar, 0.4µm. (E) High-power electron micrograph showing extensive folding
(arrow) of the basal membrane in the relaxed state. Scale bar, 1.7µm.
