THE EFFECT OF TRANSPOSITION TO JEJUNUM ON EPITHELIAL CELL KINETICS IN AN ILEAL SEGMENT

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Abstract
Epithelial cell kinetics were studied in an ileal segment after transposition to proximal jejunum. The number of cells per villus column in the transposed ileum increased after 4-7 days to reach values normal for jejunum after 14-30 days. This increase was accompanied by a simultaneous increase in number of cells per crypt column up to 130% of values in jejunum and ileum in situ. Percentage of labeled crypt cells after labeling with 3H-thymidine and relative size of the proliferative cell compartment in the crypt in the transposed ileum did not differ from values in the ileum in situ at any time interval after surgery. Total proliferative activity per crypt, which was determined by scintillation counting of isolated crypts after 3H-thymidine labeling, increased 2-fold from 7 days after surgery. Cell migration studies showed that increase in number of villus cells was probably not caused by a change in the life span of epithelial cells. Increase in number of villus cells in ileal epithelium after transposition to proximal jejunum apparently is brought about by an enlargement of the crypt, while the relative size of the proliferative cell compartment in the crypt remains unchanged.