Role of intestinal mucus on the uptake of latex beads by Peyer's patches and on their transport to mesenteric lymph nodes in rats.

BACKGROUND: The effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a mucolytic agent on the uptake of fluorescent polystyrene microparticles by Peyer's patches, on intestinal permeability, and on subsequent transport to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) were investigated to establish the role of mucus gel layer in this process.

METHODS: Twenty rats were divided into two groups: control (n = 10) and NAC (n = 10). Fluorescent polystyrene latex beads of 3.2+/-0.2 microm in diameter were used as a probe for measuring the previously mentioned parameters. The solution of latex beads (0.1 mL) was injected into a 2-cm length of ileal loop containing Peyer's patches, with 0.1 mL of saline (control group) or with 0.1 mL of NAC solution (NAC group) within 10 cm proximal from the ileocaecal valve. Intestinal loops, portal blood, and neighboring MLNs were taken within 1 hour of injection. Intestinal sections were stained by periodic acid-Schiff reagent. Peyer's patches and MLNs were analyzed for the count of particles by image analysis using a confocal laser scanning microscope.

RESULTS: Morphologically, periodic acid-Schiff positive uniform mucus gel was present in front of Peyer's patches of the control group, and mucus gel layer was disrupted and noncontinuous in the NAC group. The number of particles within Peyer's patches and MLNs in the NAC group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<.001). Intestinal permeability of latex beads in the NAC group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the mucus gel layer located in front of Peyer's patches is one of the important factors for the uptake of noxious macromolecules, and this in turn plays a major role on small intestinal permeability and subsequent translocation to MLNs.