THE COLON IN INTESTINAL ADAPTATION MONITO RED BY CHANGES IN THE PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an auxiliary protein to D NA poymerase partial derivative necessary for tissue cellular prolifer ation. The colon releases several peptides or hormones which are proba bly related to intestinal proliferation. Colonic resection determines adaptive changes in the remnant bowel. In the present study, prolifera tive changes after colectomy were studied by means of the murine monoc lonal PC10 antibody. A control group (n=10 rats) and a 75% proximal co lon resection group (n=10 rats) were studied. 14 days after resection, jejunal, ileal and colon samples were taken and assayed for PCNA. Rel ationship between immunostained nuclei and the total number of nuclei was determined. The three intestinal segments showed statisticaly sign ificant increases (p < 0,001) in the number of immunostained nuclei. P CNA proliferative index was greater in the remnant large bowel.