CHANGES IN GROWTH KINETICS OF JEJUNAL EPITHELIUM IN MICE MAINTAINED ON AN ELEMENTAL DIET

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Abstract
Changes in the kinetics of the intestinal epithelium were observed in mice maintained on an elemental diet containing hydrolyzed protein and medium chain triglycerides. An increase in the length of the villi seen shortly after commencement of the diet was followed by a reduction in the rate of proliferation in the crypt. After 7 days on the diet, an equilibrium state was reached with the cellularity of the villi being 120% that of control while the number of proliferative cells/crypt was reduced by 35%. The proliferative response of the crypt following irradiation occurred 16 h later in diet-fed mice than in controls. Because of the increased cellularity of the villus compartment in diet-fed mice, additional time was apparently required to reduce the number of villus cells to a critical level where a proliferative response is induced in the crypt.