Generation of neomucosa in vivo by transplantation of dissociated rat postnatal small intestinal epithelium.

A novel method to study the generation of rat small intestinal mucosa, by transplantation of disaggregated postnatal rat small intestinal epithelium is described. Cellular aggregates, comprised of epithelium with attached proliferative cells and closely associated stromal tissue, were isolated from postnatal rat small intestine by enzymatic digestion, then grafted immediately to the subcutaneous plane of adult recipients. On graft retrieval after 14 days, 39% of cellular transplants to nude mice, and 84% of cellular transplants to inbred rats had developed into small intestine-like structures. These structures were comprised of a circumferential layer of epithelium surrounding a central mucin filled lumen. This neomucosal layer exhibited well formed crypts and villi, and contained all epithelial stem cell lineages i.e. absorptive enterocytes, goblet cells, Paneth's cells and entero-endocrine cells. Proliferative activity within this neomucosa was confined to crypt regions as in normal postnatal small intestine. Developmental maturation within the regenerated neomucosa was demonstrated by organotypic morphogenesis, i.e. formation of mature crypts and villi, and progressive cytodifferentiation with increased numbers of goblet cells, entero-endocrine cells and Paneth's cells. Altered patterns of brush border enzyme expression further confirmed a temporal progression of development within neomucosal enterocytes. It is concluded that after "extensive" mucosal disaggregation, postnatal small intestinal epithelial progenitor cells retain the capacity for organotypic regeneration of neomucosa when transplanted to ectopic sites in adult recipients. These small aggregates of epithelium and stroma are capable of generating the topographical signals necessary for the three dimensional regeneration of this tissue. Furthermore, the multipotent generative potential of the stem cells within these cellular aggregates is maintained with production of all progeny.