In rat self-filling blind loops and in the contiguous regions of the intestinal tract, considerable functional impairment, accompanied by pronounced morphological transformations of the mucosa, has been observed. The histological alterations consist of mucosal hypertrophy and a reduction in the villus height: crypt length ratio, which is indicative of a hyper-regenerative change. Various enzyme activities of the epithelial cells are reduced and the absorption otinal juices is greatly altered in favour of the free acids. Two mec,anisms have 0een dicids, or meta0olites from bacterial degradation, on the absorptive epithelium; 2. Reduced cellular maturity in response to the effect of bile acids and/or bacteria on the lifespan of the cells.