Premium
Functional activity of intestinal epithelium demonstrated by mRNA in situ hybridization
Author(s) -
Talbot Ian C.,
Primrose Lindsay,
Pringle James H.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711580404
Subject(s) - in situ hybridization , epithelium , crypt , intestinal epithelium , biology , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , enteroendocrine cell , intestinal mucosa , pathology , endocrinology , medicine , gene , biochemistry , endocrine system , genetics , hormone
Abstract To elucidate the synthetic activity in relation to the morphology of the epithelial cells of the small and large intestine, in situ hybridization with a poly‐deoxyribothymidine (poly d(T)) probe was applied to paraffin sections of formalin fixed blocks. This effectively displays poly‐adenylated RNA and, by implication, messenger RNA (mRNA). By minimizing proteinase K pretreatment, the relative concentrations of cellular mRNA were visualized. This revealed minimal mRNA in crypt columnar cells, and maximal mRNA in proliferating cells and in cells showing terminal differentiation. The latter include surface epithelial cells, endocrine cells, Paneth cells, and maturing, but not mature, goblet cells. The goblet cells showing positive hybridization can be regarded as active cells and show characteristic morphology. Such cells are particularly evident in untreated coeliac disease, remitting ulcerative colitis, and transitional mucosa. The proliferating cells showing increased hybridization include normal mitotically active crypt epithelium, regenerating epithelium in ulcerative colitis, adenomatous epithelium, and adenocarcinomatous epithelium. The similarity of hybridization between metaplastic polyp epithelium and surface colonocytes is consistent with the concept that metaplastic polyps are formed of cells showing premature terminal differentiation.