Fenestrations of the basal lamina of intestinal villi of the rat

Fenestrations of the basal lamina of rat intestinal villi were revealed by scanning electron microscopy after removal of the overlying epithelial cells by osmic acid maceration. These fenestrations are circular to oval in shape and are 0.5 micron to 5 microns in diameter. They are richly distributed at a density of 1-2 X 10(4)/mm2 in the upper two thirds of the villi, except at the very tips. Roughly 500 fenestrations are found on each side of an average sized tongue-shaped villus. Transmission electron-microscopic observations showed that these fenestrations were passages for migrating cells of the immune system such as lymphocytes, eosinophils and macrophages. Protrusions from the basal parts of epithelial cells were also observed passing through these fenestrations. These findings are discussed with respect to their immunological implications and to the passage of nutrients.