X-ray microanalysis of the secretory granules in the intestinal goblet cells of aging mice

Abstract

The elemental changes in the goblet cell secretory granules of the mouse jejunum and ascending colon during postnatal development and aging were studied by a quantitative electron probe X-ray microanalysis on quick frozen and freeze-dried cryosections. In the jejunum, sulfur showed the highest peaks, followed by those for K, Cl, Ca, P and Na, respectively. In the colon, on the other hand, potassium showed the highest peaks, followed by those for S, Cl, Ca, P, Na respectively. Sulfur in the jejunum was at its lowest on postnatal day 14, as its highest at 1 month, and then gradually decreased with aging.