Relation between epithelial mitotic activity in crypts of small intestine and state of nervous system

Abstract

Experiments were performed on albino rats. Two to three intestinal nerve branches were cut in the mesentery of the small intestine, and the mesentery was cut (2 cm) at the site of attachment to the intestinal loop. Mitosis was reduced by 26–35% on the 10th postoperative day as compared with the intestine of control animals, and the intact intestinal loop in the operated animals. Enhanced sympathetic tonicity (adrenalin administration) reduces the mitotic activity in the epithelium of the small intestine, whereas enhanced parasympathetic tonicity (proserine administration) has no effect on this activity. Changes of the mitotic activity in the epithelium of the crypts following surgical intervention on the peripheral nervous system point to the relationship of this activity to the state of the nervous system.