Microcirculation of the rat small intestine as studied by the injection replica scanning electron microscope method.

Mucosal blood supply in the rat small intestine was studied by the injection replica scanning electron microscope method. The blood vascular plexus in the villus is originated at the tip of the villus and confluenced near the base of the villus. This supports the classical "fountain pattern" of MALL in the villous microcirculation. The capillary plexus in the crypt is derived at the base of the crypt and converged near the base of the crypt. The capillary plexuses in the villus and the crypt communicate with each other. It is considered that the basal segment of the villus, where the arterial termination is lacking, is supplied by the cryptal capillaries via this communication.