Necleolar reorganization in epithelial cells of the jejunum of the rat

Light microscope studies were made on nucleoli of jejunal epithelial cells of normal rats fixed in OsO 4 , glutaraldehyde, F.A.A. and HgCl 2 and stained with basic fuchsin–alkaline methylene blue. Nucleolar reorganization is extensive and clearly resembles the phenomenon of nucleolar segregation. Polymorphous nucleoli of undifferentiated crypt cells show intermingled constituents and stain purple whereas similar nucleoli of definitive absorptive cells show two homogeneous components–A, stained red and B, stained blue. Cytochemical studies indicate that component A is largely protein and acidophilic and component B is largely nucleic acids and basophilic. These nucleoli become compacted, each forming an amphinucleolus with the two components at opposite poles. Further changes occur along the villi and the components generally separate to form a condensed plasmosome and a diffuse karysome. Extruded cells show nucleolar fragmentation. Electron micrographs of OsO 4 material were used in preparation of wax models. These, along with electron micrographs of glutaraldehyde material stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate, clearly illustrate and duplicate light microscope findings and strongly resemble nucleolar segregation produced by antimetabolites. Cells of the villi with reorganized nucleoli do not undergo mitosis whereas undifferentiated crypt cells do so. Furthermore, nucleolar reorganization is correlated with aging since it begins in crypt cells and culminates in senescent cells at the tips of the villi. A review is given of the extensive evidence showing that, in the intestine certain functional changes occur similar to those demonstrated in experimental nucleolar segregation. These include gradually changing patterns of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis as well as enzyme activity. The accompany and probably result from nucleolar reorganization.