Figure 3

Histology of a jejunal biopsy from a CRD patient. Panel A: photomicrograph of hematoxylin-eosin staining showing vacuolization of enterocytes and well preserved villous structure. The distribution of vacuolization, which corresponds to lipid droplets, is heterogeneous: fat filled enterocytes (black arrow) in the upper part of the villus are associated with normal enterocytes in the crypts (white arrow) (×20). Panel B: Higher magnification (×100) of the same patient's biopsy. Panel C: Electronic microscopy. The pictures show the apical pole of the enterocytes exhibiting well-preserved microvilli (black arrow), numerous chylomicrons (CM) and fat droplets of homogenous size gorging the cytoplasm (Cy). The intercellular membranes demonstrate a complete juxtaposition of intercellular membranes where lipid particles are absent (white arrow) (×4000).