ENEMAS AND CELL-PROLIFERATION IN THE NORMAL RECTAL MUCOSA

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 8  (3) , 216-221
Abstract
In order to study the potential influence of rectal enemas on epithelial cell proliferation, 2 groups of 13 patients without any disease of the digestive tract were compared, 1 group received 2 warm enemas (Normacol) prior to proctoscopic examination. Cell proliferation was studied by in vitro incorporation of 3H thymidine in mucosal biopsies and radioautographic analysis of the number and position of labeled nuclei in the glands. The mean number of labeled cells per gland and the mean labeling index were significantly higher in group I (with enemas) than in group II (without enema). In group I there was an extension of the proliferative compartment towards the surface with < 50% of labeled cells located in the lower third of glands. Intraindividual variations of labeling index from gland to gland were more important in group I than in group II. In group I, 8 of 13 patients had rectal glands with elevated labeling indices (15%) in contrast to 1 patient in group II. Proliferation abnormalities observed in group I are apparently related to enema administration. This type of rectal preparation should preferably be excluded whenever cell kinetic parameters are studied in the rectal mucosa.