Abstract
Preliminary observations indicated that the scanning electron microscope was useful to compare the mucosal surface appearances of the normal large intestine with ulcerative colitis.
The samples observed in this series were 22 resected specimen of normal large intestine, 2 resected specimen and 7 biopsied specimen of ulcerative colitis patients.
The excised samples were washed with saline solution and fixed with 4% formaldehyde and 1.2% glutaraldehyde. Then they were cut by razor, and dehydrated by 30-100% alcohol using critical point drying method.
Following above treatment, deposition of the cabon and gold was performed.
Observation of the samples was performed with Hitachi H.H.S.-2R, M.S.M.-400, and S.-500.
Regular crypts, tall villis, regular furrows and microvillis were observed on the surface of the normal large intestine.
In chronic ulcerative colitis, irregular crypts, short villis, short and irregular microvillis and abundant mucus were observed.
