[Ultrastructural organization of tuft cells of the small intestinal epithelium].

Electron microscopy was used to described a special cell type seen in the small intestinal epithelium of rats (conventional, sterile, monocontaminated with El Tor cholera vibrios, and three-day-old). Ultrastructurally the cells in question appeared to be analogous to "brush" alveolocytes and tuft cells of the mucous membrane of the bronchi, stomach, gallbladder and eyes. It is suggested that these cells may be attributed to receptor cells performing resorptive and secretory functions.