ENTERIC DISEASE IN EARLY-CHILDHOOD INHIBITS MICROVILLUS EXPRESSION BYPOTENTIAL STEM-CELLS

1. Enterocyte development of microvillus structure has been measured i n intestinal biopsies obtained from children suffering from coeliac di sease, cow's milk protein intolerance and microvillus atrophy, and the results compared with similar measurements carried out in control chi ldren. 2. All types of enteric disease caused a significant 30% reduct ion in the length of microvilli present on undifferentiated basal cryp t enterocytes, here referred to as potential stem cells. 3. Microvillu s growth measured in control enterocytes took place mainly over the ba sal third of the villus. There was then little further change in struc ture during subsequent enterocyte migration to the villus tip. 4. Micr ovillus length in diseased tissue remained more or less constant durin g enterocyte migration to the crypt-villus junction. Microvillus lengt h then decreased slightly during subsequent enterocyte migration over stunted villi. 5. The present results are discussed in relation to the supposed properties of potential stem cells. Comparisons are also mad e between profiles of microvillus development measured in healthy chil dren and mature adults.