HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON LIPIDS IN EPITHELIUM OF FETAL COLON

Large intestines from 30 fetuses with crown-rump lengths ranging from 26 to 180 mm have been studied histochemically as to their epithelial content of lipids. These lipids have been localized intracellularly and basally in the cells, and comparative studies of the colon and the small intestine have demonstrated that there are considerable amounts of lipids in the colon as compared with the small intestine. It is concluded that the main part of the lipids consist of saturated and unsaturated constituents. The possible explanations of the lipids as absorbed material, biological active material synthetized de novo or as material involved in the metabolism of fetal surface cells are discussed. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.