Proliferation and migration kinetics of stem cells in the rat fundic gland

The proliferation and migration of stem cells in the developing and adult rat fundic gland have been studied using BrdU immunohistochemistry and BrdU-GSA II (Griffonia-simplicifolia agglutinin-II) double staining. In the developing rat fundic gland, stem cells were first scattered throughout all levels of the epithelia and then concentrated in the depth of the pits. With the elongation and maturation of the fundic glands, stem cells left the gland base and moved upward. By 4 weeks after birth, the development of the fundic gland was completed and stem cells were confined to a narrow proliferative zone in the isthmus, reaching the adult distribution pattern. In the adult rat fundic gland, stem cells in the isthmus differentiated and migrated upward and downward, replacing the surface mucous cells and glandular cells respectively. For upward migration, it took about one week for stem cells to migrate from the isthmus to the surface. For downward migration, it took about two weeks for stem cells to migrate from the isthmus to the neck, and it took 30-36 weeks to reach the gland unit's blind end. Finally stem cells were lost at the deepest level of the glands. The results obtained by simple topographical distribution in the present experiment agreed well with those obtained by quantitative analysis, suggesting the usefulness of BrdU immunohistochemistry for cell kinetic studies.