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Genetic regulation of enterocyte function: a quantitative in situ hybridisation study of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase and Na+-glucose cotransporter mRNAs in rabbit small intestine

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Abstract

The enterocyte undergoes sequential changes in its structure and function as it migrates rapidly from the small intestinal crypts to the villus tip. The mechanisms by which these changes are regulated “in tune” with ontogenic and dietary changes in the luminal environment are currently under investigation. This study has employed oligonucleotide probes to follow the expression of the lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) and Na+-glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) genes in rabbit small intestine using quantitative in situ hybridisation histochemistry. The profiles of LPH mRNA and SGLT1 mRNA accumulation along the crypt-villus axis were found to be very similar. Although mRNA was undetectable in the crypt, LPH and SGLT1 mRNA levels rose rapidly at the crypt-villus junction, reaching a maximum between 210 μm and 330 μm above this point. Further up the villus the level of mRNAs declined. SGLT1 mRNA was present in all small intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum and ileum), whereas LPH mRNA was absent from the ileum. LPH activity rose and fell in conjunction with mRNA, but SGLT1 activity was greatest at the villus tip where mRNA levels were considerably reduced. These data have been used to discuss the genetic regulation of enterocyte differentiation and function.

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Author notes

  1. D. R. Tivey

    Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, Waite Agricultural Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, 5064, Glen Osmond, South Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Wales, SY23 3DD, Aberystwyth, Dyfed, UK

    T. C. Freeman

  2. Department of Cell Biology, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, CB2 4AT, Babraham, Cambridge, UK

    T. C. Freeman & A. J. Collins

  3. Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, CB2 4AT, Babraham, Cambridge, UK

    D. R. Tivey

  4. Department of Behavioural Physiology, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, CB2 4AT, Babraham, Cambridge, UK

    R. P. Heavens

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  1. T. C. Freeman
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  2. A. J. Collins
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  3. R. P. Heavens
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  4. D. R. Tivey
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Freeman, T.C., Collins, A.J., Heavens, R.P. et al. Genetic regulation of enterocyte function: a quantitative in situ hybridisation study of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase and Na+-glucose cotransporter mRNAs in rabbit small intestine. Pflugers Arch. 422, 570–576 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374004

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374004

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