Intestinal Adaptation

THE mucosal lining of the intestinal tract is in a constant state of renewal. Enteric* epithelium has the fastest rate of turnover† for any tissue in the body, exceeded only by a few rapidly growing malignant tumors.1 Nonetheless, proliferation of epithelial cells may be further accelerated by a number of stimuli, notably partial intestinal resection. Survival of animals and man is possible after the loss of most of the small bowel, and postoperative diarrhea and malabsorption tend to improve with time. Clearly, the gut, like the liver and kidney, has both a functional reserve and a . . .