ANALYSIS OF THE CELL-DEATH IN THE MUCOID EPITHELIUM OF MOUSE STOMACH

The death and phagocytosis of the stomach mucoid epithelium cells in 2 -8 day old mice were investigated in relation to the state of cell dif ferentiation and the cell age. The autoradiographic determination of H -3-thymidine and cytochemical demonstration of neutral mucosubstances in secretory granules (TA-UA and PA-TCH-SP methods) were used. During the migration from the proliferation centers to the surface of the muc oid epithelium the cell death occurs in two different ways: by apoptos is and by necrosis. Necrosis is limited to superficial, fully differen tiated mucoid cells, which - after the cell death has occurred - are d esquamated into the lumen as fragments of irregular shape. The apoptos is is very common and takes place in all the regions: from the prolife ration nests up to the surface. It does not depend on the step of diff erentiation or the age of the cells. In the phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies are included neighbouring mucoid cells. The general occurrence of the apoptosis indicates the important role of this process in the r egulation of the cell population during the morphogenesis of the stoma ch epithelium.