Distribution of three microvillar enzymes along the small intestinal crypt-villus axis

Gert Helge Hansen, L L Niels-Christiansen, M D Poulsen, Ove Norén, H Sjöström

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aminopeptidase N (ApN), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) and sucrose-isomaltase (S-I) are differentially expressed along the pig jejunum crypt-villus axis. Quantitative immunoelectron microscopy and enzyme cytochemistry show that DPP IV and S-I are expressed in enterocytes along the entire length of the axis, whereas ApN is found mainly in the villar and upper crypt enterocytes. All three enzymes are detected in the basolateral membrane at all levels along the crypt-villus axis, although ApN and S-I only occurred at low intensities in the villus region. The microvillar/basolateral labelling ratio for the three enzymes increases to a varying degree for the three enzymes along the axis suggesting that the sorting efficiency to the apical membrane improves at least for ApN and S-I as the cells mature. These findings might indicate that the enterocytes change from a transcytotic to a direct apical transport as the enterocytes mature.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology
Volume26
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)453-460
Number of pages7
ISSN1122-9497
Publication statusPublished - 1994

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