2000 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 193-196
Apoptotic index (AI) of the gastrointestinal mucous epithelia was examined in mice at 8, 16, 24 and 48 hours after oral inoculation (HAI) of T-2 toxin (10mg/kg). In the fundic region of the stomach, AI prominently increased at 8 HAI and deceased thereafter in the foveolae gastricae while it started to increase slowly and became prominent at 24 HAI in the glandular base. AI in the glandular neck was constantly low. On the other hand, in the intestinal crypt epithelia, AI prominently increased at 8 HAI in all regions examined (duodenum, ileum, cecum and colon), and thereafter decreased with the lapse of time. AI was clearly higher in the small intestine than in the large one especially in the early stage. Mitotic index (MI) examined was drastically decreased at 8 HAI when AI prominently increased, and thereafter turned to recover in the lapse of time. However AI after T-2 toxin inoculation was not always proportional to MI before T-2 toxin inoculation. The sequence of and the regional difference in AI in the gastrointestinal mucous epithelia after T-2 toxin intoxication was first clarified in the present study.
