Microvilli of the intestinal mucosal cells of Rousettus aegyptiacus

Abstract

The microvilli in the small intestine of the bat are very long and slender when compared with those in the rat. This morphology results in the absorption surface per unit area in the bat being three times greater than in the rat. No difference could be observed between the thickness of the plasma membrane of the microvilli and the plasma membrane of the rest of the cell. The terminal web, 'fuzz' and the filaments in the microvilli are all poorly developed in the bat.