A schematic figure showing the thicknesses of the 2 mucus gel layers in vivo in the corpus, antrum, midduodenum, proximal jejunum, distal ileum, and proximal colon of the rat gastrointestinal tract

Range Figure - link µm
Organism Rat Rattus norvegicus
Reference Atuma C, Strugala V, Allen A, Holm L. The adherent gastrointestinal mucus gel layer: thickness and physical state in vivo. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2001 May280(5):G922-9 p.G925 figure 1PubMed ID11292601
Method Abstract: "Divergent results from in vitro studies on the thickness and appearance of the gastrointestinal mucus layer have previously been reported. With an in vivo model, [investigators] studied mucus gel thickness over time from stomach to colon. The gastrointestinal tissues of Inactin-anesthetized rats were mounted luminal side up for intravital microscopy. Mucus thickness was measured with a micropipette before and after mucus removal by suction."
Comments Abstract: "The mucus layer was translucent and continuous it was thickest in the colon (approximately 830 microm) and thinnest in the jejunum (approximately 123 microm). On mucus removal, a continuous, firmly adherent mucus layer remained attached to the epithelial surface in the corpus (approximately 80 microm), antrum (approximately 154 microm), and colon (approximately 116 microm). In the small intestine, this layer was very thin (approximately 20 microm) or absent." See note beneath figure
Entered by Uri M
ID 112792