Eleanor E. Deschner

An autoradiographic study of the renewal of argentaffin cells in human rectal mucosa.

The proliferation of argentaffin cells has been studied in human rectal mucosa by combining histochemical identification of argentaffin cells with microautoradiography. The observed minimum duration of the G2 (premitotic) portion of interphase was 534 hr, and estimates of replacement time of the argentaffin cell population were about 35–100 days. Within these estimates, the generation time of individual cells appeared to vary greatly, some remaining for long periods in the G2 or G1 (postmitotic) portions of interphase.

Comparative analysis of cell renewal in the gastrointestinal tract of newborn hamster

Abstract Comparative rates of cell proliferation in different areas of gastrointestinal tract of newborn hamster were estimated by observing the appearance of repetitive waves of 3 HTdR labeled mitoses. The proliferation of cells was also studied by constructing theoretical models to simulate the appearance in time of the repetitive waves. In each model, the cycle durations of individual cells or groups of cells in the proliferating population, and the fractional contribution of each group to the total population were known. The contributions of the population elements were summated, to indicate descriptive characteristics of the repetitive proliferative cycles. The data indicated more rapid proliferation in small intestine than in stomach and colon, and suggested additional similarities and perturbations in the proliferative cycle of cells in these areas.

Observations on the Paneth cell in human ileum.

Abstract An autoradiographic study of the Paneth cell in human ileum is presented. The low labeling index, low mitotic frequency, and retention of label over a long testing period (18 and 32 days after 3 HTdR injection) seen in these cells confirm the slow replacement of this cell type. The observed minimum duration of the G2 (premitotic) phase was 3 hr. Observations on the migration, secretion, and death of the Paneth cell are also reported, as well as estimates of the generation and replacement time of this cell.

Patterns of cell proliferation in gastrointestinal disease

SummaryRecent analyses have revealed abnormalities in the renewal pattern of proliferating gastrointestinal cells. In polyps, villous adenomas, hyperplasia of mucosa, and in histologically normal tissue near these lesions, an abnormal location of proliferating cells was observed. The displaced zone of actively proliferating cells may be the earliest sign of hyperplastic activity and future polyp development. Abnormalities in the proliferative cell cycle of carcinoma cells and normal cells adjacent to a carcinoma were also found. In intestinalized atrophic gastric mucosa, rapid epithelial cell proliferation was seen. Inhibition of the proliferation of epithelial cells in gastric mucosa contributed to the development of experimental stress erosions. These findings point to alterations in biochemical events, within proliferating cells and possibly in the surrounding environment, that have specific roles in the causation of these diseases of the mucosa.