[Catabolic processes in the rectal mucosa. Light and electron microscopic studies].

The phagocytosing activity of macrophages and fibrocytes of the lamina propria was examined by means of light and electron microscopy; the material had been obtained through 121 biopsies performed on patients ranging in age from 3 weeks to 43 years (113 taken from the rectum, 8 from the small intestine). The phagocytosing activity of the stroma has been known since the studies of v. Möllendorf, Clara, Patzelt, Maximov, Malatzkaya carried out on guinea pigs, rats, birds and a few human embryos. In recent years this problem has been raised again by some American authors. Our studies close the gap existing for the age group ranging from birth to the 16th year. It was demonstrated that the rate of this activity is much higher than hitherto assumed by Askar, Ekuan and Hill, Azzopardi and Evans. The authors discuss the reasons for these discrepancies in the finding, and the origin and composition of the substances ingested.