Analysis of the cell death in the mucoid epithelium of mouse stomach

The death and phagocytosis of the stomach mucoid epithelium cells in 2-8 day old mice were investigated in relation to the state of cell differentiation and the cell age. The autoradiographic determination of 3H-thymidine and cytochemical demonstration of neutral mucosubstances in secretory granules (TA-UA and PA-TCH-SP methods) were used. During the migration from the proliferation centers to the surface of the mucoid epithelium the cell death occurs in two different ways: by apoptosis and by necrosis. Necrosis is limited to superficial, fully differentiated mucoid cells, which--after the cell death has occurred--are desquamated into the lumen as fragments of irregular shape. The apoptosis is very common and takes place in all the regions: from the proliferation nests up to the surface. It does not depend on the step of differentiation or the age of the cells. In the phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies are included neighbouring mucoid cells. The general occurrence of the apoptosis indicates the important role of this process in the regulation of the cell population during the morphogenesis of the stomach epithelium.