MICHIGAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
129 
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON INTESTINAL VILLI. 
A PRELIMINARY REPORT BY OTIS M. COPE. 
This research was undertaken as a result of the observation of move- 
ments of individual villi of the intestine when viewed under a low 
power binocular microscope. The rate of this movement was observed 
to be much more rapid than one would naturally expect in un-striped 
muscle. This initial observation having been made while working with 
Prof. W. P. Lombard, he suggested a further study of the movements to 
determine their nature and cause. 
The method of attacking the problem was to anesthetize the animals, 
(dogs and rabbits), with Chloretone, which was given intra-peri ton eally 
in hot olive oil solution, and which causes complete anesthesia in about 
thirty minutes, the anesthesia lasting as long as two weeks, providing 
the animal is properly nourished by artificial means. After anesthetiz- 
ing the animal, it is placed on its back, an opening made into the 
abdominal cavity in the lower posterior portion of the abdomen, a loop 
of the intestine is brought up to the surface, a longitudinal slit about 
2 cm. in length is made in the gut opposite to the attachment of the 
mesentery and the out-rolled mucosa examined with the binocular 
microscope, under a strong reflected light. 
Repeated examinations of the villi in rabbits have so far failed to 
show any movements whatsoever, while in dogs, only a few experiments 
have been satisfactory, owing to 1 the fact that the movements cease 
within a very few minutes after the gut has been exposed to the air, 
while abdominal respiratory movements alter the focal distances so 
much that a clear picture of the villi is impossible. 
To obviate the latter difficulty, an apparatus was constructed to 
support the loop of intestine and prevent the respiratory movements 
from being communicated to it. The apparatus consists of a metal disc 
with a long handle for clamping to a stand. The disc has two flanges, 
one at each edge, to catch the tissues of the abdominal wall and hold 
them apart to allow the gut to be more easily handled and to allow 
the necessary amount of light to be thrown on the villi. The upper 
flange is fitted with several perforations to allow the gut to be caught up 
in several places by fine threads and tied to the apparatus itself. By 
this means, the respiratory movements are entirely done away with. 
Up to the present time, but little has been accomplished in actually 
answering the questions suggested by the problem, but it is thought 
that by a further use of the instrument, more light may be thrown oh 
the subject. A fuller discussion of the problem is reserved for a later 
paper. 
Ann Arbor, Mich., April, 1913. 
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