Radioautographic study on the aging change of 3H-glucosamine uptake in mouse ileum

The changes of the localization of incorporated glucosamine in mice ilea due to aging were studied by light microscopic radioautography in 10 groups of mice from fetus (19th day of embryo) to senescent (postnatal 2 years). After intraperitoneal injection of 6-3H-D-glucosamine the ilea of respective age groups were taken out and processed for light microscopic radioautography. The numbers of silver grains were counted at each part of ileal mucosal cells. The results show that the silver grains of columnar epithelial cells were localized mainly on brush border and Golgi region, and the grains of goblet cells were localized on Golgi region and mucous granules. Comparing the intestinal villi and crypts, the uptake of columnar epithelial cells and villi goblet cells was higher than these cells in crypt. The number of grains in respective age groups increased from perinatal to mature adults due to aging.