Abstract
Cellular kinetic data are not available for developing human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Therefore an investigation was undertaken to establish tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation into DNA and labeling indices (LI) in the epitheliim (E), mesenchyme (ME) and the muscular (M) layers between 10 and 17 weeks' gestation. Explants of esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon were cultured in serum-free Leibovitz L-15 medium at 37°C in 95% air - 5% CO2 (J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 1985; 4:893). The incorporation of 3H-TdR into DNA was evaluated during a 6 hour period and results expressed as DPM/ug CNA. The LI were established on radioautographs of explants cultured for 2 hours in presence of 2 μCi of 3H-TdR per ml of culture, itedium. The incorporation of 3H-TdR into the total DNA was highest at 12 weeks gestation in the esophagus and stomach and decreased steadily over the next 4 weeks, while the total DNA synthesis remained relatively constant in the small intestine and colon. However, the establishment of LI showed the highest epithelial LI in the small intestine (28.8%) and colon (18%), and the lowest in the esophagus (11.8%) and stomach (9.4%). This pattern remained during development although the I.I decreased (16 weeks: 9.2, 11.4, 5.2 and 5.4%, respectively). On the other hand the ME and M Layers of the stomach always exhibited LI comparable to that of their respective epithelia (12 weeks: E, 9.4; ME 9.5; M, 9.3; 16 weeks E, 5.4; ME, 5.5; M, 5.37.). In the small intestine, the LI was always highest in the E and lowest in the M. This pattern was acquired by the colon once the villi had developped. Hie localization of the labeled cells was correlated with the morphogenesis of the different tissues of the GI tract. This study provides for the first time basic data on cell proliferation in fetal CI tract, and indicates that explant culture should be useful for the study of the regulators of cell proliferation during human development.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arsenault, P., Ménard, D. CELL PROLIFERATION IN HUMAN FETAL GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 209 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00255
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00255