The pH of the small intestine of normal, starved and Giardia-Infected norway rats

Abstract

1. Using a capillary glass electrode, pH determinations were made at intervals of 6 inches along the small intestine of normal, starved and Giardiain-fected albino Norway rats. 2. Wall hyperacidity of some significance, associated with Giardia infection and possibly related to parasite distribution, was observed in an upper area of the jejunum of young rats infected with G. muris, and in a lower area of the ileum of mature rats infected with G. muris and G. microti. 3. Starvation induced marked alkalinity of the small intestine in both young and adult rats.