Does neomucosa induced by small bowel stem cell transplantation have adequate function?

Small intestinal epithelium digests and absorbs nutrients. Crypt stem cell transplantation can generate neomucosa with normal morphology, but the digestive and absorptive capacities of this neomucosa are unknown. This study evaluates stem cell induced neomucosal brush border digestive enzyme activity and nutrient transport function. Rodent small intestinal epithelial stem cells were isolated by enzymatic digestion, then grafted to inbred recipients. Grafts were retrieved at 25 days, and apical brush border membrane vesicles prepared for quantitative assays. Neomucosal lactase, sucrase, aminopeptidase N, and alkaline phosphatase activity was determined by incubation with enzyme specific substrate. Neomucosal sodium dependent D-glucose transport was evaluated by incubation with D-[U-14C] glucose. Comparative assays were performed in age-matched control intestine. Neomucosal digestive enzyme activities and D-glucose transport were all similar in neomucosa and control small intestine.