Preliminary characterization of jejunocyte and colonocyte cell lines isolated by enzymatic digestion from adult and young cattle.

In the present study we developed an enzymatic approach (through the use of collagenase and dispase) to isolate bovine intestinal epithelial cells. Using this method, freshly isolated jejunocytes could be distinguished from simultaneously isolated colonocytes, as the jejunocytes specifically exhibited the small intestinal peptidase gene transcript, as well as an active alkaline phosphatase. The transformation of both types of cell suspension was performed by retroviral infection, using reproduction-defective viruses bearing the gene coding for the large T antigen of the leukaemia simian virus (SV40).

Development of a serum-free co-culture of human intestinal epithelium cell-lines (Caco-2/HT29-5M21).

Background: The absorptive and goblet cells are the main cellular types encountered in the intestine epithelium. The cell lineage Caco-2 is a model commonly used to reproduce the features of the bowel epithelium. However, there is a strong debate regarding the value of Caco-2 cell culture to mimick in vivo situation.

Immunochemical, biomolecular and biochemical characterization of bovine epithelial intestinal primocultures.

Background: Cultures of enterocytes and colonocytes represent valuable tools to study growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. In vitro models may be used to evaluate passage or toxicity of drugs, interactions of enteropathogenes bacteria strains with intestinal epithelium and other physiologic or pathologic phenomenon involving the digestive tract.

Results: Cultures of bovine colonocytes and jejunocytes were obtained from organoid-enriched preparations, using a combination of enzymatic and mechanical disruption of the intestine epithelium, followed by an isopicnic centrifugation discarding most single cells.

Modulation of intestinal urea cycle by dietary spermine in suckling rat.

Argininosuccinate synthetase, an ubiquitous enzyme in mammals, catalyses the formation of argininosuccinate, the precursor of arginine. Arginine is recognised as an essential amino acid in foetuses and neonates, but also as a conditionally essential amino acid in adults. Argininosuccinate synthetase is initially expressed in enterocytes during the developmental period, it disappeared from this organ then appeared in the kidneys.

Intestinal effects of long-lasting spermine ingestion by suckling rats.

Spermine ingestion induces the precocious maturation of the small intestine in suckling rats. Previous observations suggest that spermine-induced intestinal maturation is a two-step phenomenon. The first step is the elimination of immature enterocytes (4-10 h post spermine ingestion) and the second step is the replacement of previous immature cells by adult-type enterocytes (2-3 days post initial spermine administration).