Crypt Fission Peaks Early During Infancy and Crypt Hyperplasia Broadly Peaks During Infancy and Childhood in the Small Intestine of Humans

• Published in: Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 153 - 157
• Main Authors: Cummins, Adrian G, Catto‐Smith, Anthony G, Cameron, Donald J, Couper, Richard T, Davidson, Geoffrey P, Day, Andrew S, Hammond, Paul D, Moore, David J, Thompson, Fiona M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01.08.2008; Lippincott
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Crypt fission; Crypt hyperplasia; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth; Humans; Hyperplasia - pathology; Immunohistochemistry; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Mucosa - cytology; Intestinal Mucosa - growth & development; Intestinal Mucosa - pathology; Intestinal stem cell; Intestine, Small - anatomy & histology; Intestine, Small - cytology; Intestine, Small - growth & development; Intestine, Small - pathology; Male; Small intestine; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Growth; Stem cell; Hyperplasia; Gastroenterology; Metabolic diseases; Infant; Peak; Crypt fission-Crypt hyperplasia-Growth- Intestinal stem cell-Small intestine; Child; Small intestine
• ISSN: 0277-2116; 1536-4801
• DOI: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181604d27

ABSTRACT Background: Postnatal growth of the small intestine occurs by crypt hyperplasia and by the less recognised mechanism of crypt fission. How the small intestine grows is largely extrapolated from animals and is poorly described in humans. Aim: To investigate crypt fission and crypt hyperplasia as mechanisms of intestinal growth in humans. Patients and Methods: Proximal intestinal samples were taken from 3 neonates at surgical anastomosis, and duodenal biopsies were taken at endoscopy from 16 infants (mean age 0.7, range 0.3–1.7 years), 14 children (mean age 7.9, range 2.4–16.2 years), and 39 adults. Morphometric measures of villous area, crypt length (measure of crypt hyperplasia), and percentage of bifid crypts (measure of crypt fission) were assessed by a microdissection technique. Results: Mean crypt fission rates in neonates, infants, children, and adults were 7.8%, 15%, 4.9%, and 1.7%, respectively. In particular, crypt fission peaked at 18% in 5 infants from 6 to 12 months of age. Mean crypt length was 123 μm in neonates, 287 μm in infants, 277 μm in children, and 209 μm in adults. Thus, crypt hyperplasia had a broad peak during infancy and childhood. Conclusions: We conclude that crypt fission was present predominantly during infancy, and crypt hyperplasia occurred during both infancy and childhood.