Isolated intestinal mucosa cells of high viability from guinea pig.

A simple method for preparing isolated enterocytes from the guinea pig is described. The procedure allows isolation of cell suspensions with high yield, outstanding viability and free of mucus. The isolated enterocytes were structurally intact. They largely excluded Trypane blue (94%), and lost smaller amounts of LDH than preparations from others. The cells accumulated K+ (greater than 90 mM) during incubation at 37 degrees and transported uridine actively. Incorporation of uridine and phenylalanine into macromolecules proceeded in a linear fashion for more than 40 min. Naphthol was efficiently conjugated with sulfate and glucuronic acid. The intracellular mitochondria exhibited well coupled respiration. Since all the examined parameters indicate functional intactness, these cells appear to be very valuable for studying the biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathology of the intestinal mucosa.