Differentiation of intestinal epithelial cell line (IEC‐18) by an acid extract of rat small intestine

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Abstract
A factor which may induce differentiation of intestinal epithelial cell lines in vitro was found in an acid extract of adult rat small intestine. The addition of a partially purified acetic acid extract of rat small intestine to IEC‐18 cell culture dishes increased sucrase activity within 48 h. Thymidine incorporation markedly decreased within 24 h. Significant development of microvilli‐like structures was observed on the acid extract‐treated IEC‐18 cells, compared with controls. This activity of rat acid extract was heat‐stable and the apparent molecular weight of the factor was 400–800. These findings suggested that the factor may be related to the epithelial differentiation of rat small intestinal crypt cells.