The Growth and Life of A Monoclonal Crypt

Abstract
A computer simulation of a highly dynamic model for the birth, growth and adult life of a monoclonal crypt in the intestine was developed starting with a single precursor stem cell. The intestinal epithelial system was studied and observed in analogy to ''in vivo'' experiments. The model output, e.g. the geometric shape of a crypt, mitotic index, labelling index and the crypt length distribution in adult state, was compared with experimental data. There was evidence from the simulation that a certain steady state in the adult life could be reached regardless of some harmless influences in post-natal life, e.g. the influence of being weaned or non-weaned. The model is based on our hypothesis of the generation-controlled proliferation mechanism and at the same time is a confirmation of it.

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