Microvillus growth and M-cell formation in mouse Peyer's patch follicle-associated epithelial tissue

Development of microvillus structure on the surface of enterocytes migrating over follicle-associated lymphoid tissue appears to take place in an identical way to that seen on villus enterocytes. M-cells, which are not found in crypts, possess microvilli of constant length in all parts of the follicle dome epithelial tissue. The surface area of M-cell microvilli is not however different from that determined on fully formed follicle-associated enterocytes. These results support the hypothesis that M-cell formation takes place throughout the dome epithelium by immune-induced transformation of already existing enterocytes.