J. Lauronen et al., INTESTINAL ADAPTATION AFTER MASSIVE PROXIMAL SMALL-BOWEL RESECTION INTHE PIG, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 33(2), 1998, pp. 152-158
Background: Small-intestinal adaptation to resection has been extensiv
ely studied in rats. The present study investigates morphology, crypt
cell proliferation, and disaccharidase activities of the remaining sma
ll intestine and colon after 75% proximal resection of porcine small i
ntestine. Methods: Specimens were obtained from the proximal jejunum,
middle and distal ileum, and proximal colon preoperatively (n = 5) and
14 weeks after small-bowel transection (n = 5) or resection (n = 5).
Proliferation was analyzed immunohistochemically with the Ki-67 antige
n MIB-1. Disaccharidase activities were determined in accordance with
the method of Dahlqvist. Results: In addition to macroscopic enlargeme
nt, resection markedly increased the villi and crypts of the remaining
small bowel. Crypt cell proliferation decreased with advancing age af
ter transection but remained at the preoperative level after resection
. Specific, but not total, activities of maltase and sucrase in the mi
d-ileum decreased after resection. Conclusion: Small-intestinal adapta
tion in the pig involves macroscopic enlargement and a prompt increase
in villus size, which is associated with high crypt cell proliferatio
n.