[The ultrastructure of the rat esophageal epithelium during ontogenesis]

The development of the epithelium of the rat esophagus was examined continuously from the 13th day post-conception until one day post-partum. Besides the single-results at different phases of development the knowledge, that the esophageal ontogeny of different mammalians may be considerably different, is of special importance. To this matter of fact was not paid attention in present literature, but the authors accentuate common things. The significant results during development are the following: 1. The completely undifferentiated epithelium of the 13th day at the same time develops basement-membrane and basic membrane of the cytoplasm. The organelles are under construction. Centriols in cells near to the lumen are seen in connection to the single-cilia, which occur till the 17th day of ontogeny. These essentially differ from cilia of the ciliated epithelium. 2. The cylindrical epithelium constitutes until the 16th day. Afterwards the first synthetic productivity like organisation of filaments are observed. By that superficial cells loose their capacity to divide. 3. On the 17th day intercellular spaces between neighbouring cells at the lumen abruptly rip up. In loco cylindrical cells change to squamous cells. There are no essential differences in time between cranial and caudal parts of the esophagus which proofs an entodermal genesis of the epithelium. 4. Changes in the ultrastructure at about 19 days p.c. cause the epithelium's keratinization. 5. 21 days p.c. few cilia-bearing cells scattered between the cells in keratinization are to be seen. 6. Before birth superficial cells become separated and are shed from the surface completely post-partum.