Microvillus growth and M-cell formation in mouse Peyer's patch follicle-associated epithelial tissue.
Development of microvillus structure on the surface of enterocytes migrating over follicle-associated lymphoid tissue appears to take place in an identical way to that seen on villus enterocytes. M-cells, which are not found in crypts, possess microvilli of constant length in all parts of the follicle dome epithelial tissue. The surface area of M-cell microvilli is not however different from that determined on fully formed follicle-associated enterocytes. These results support the hypothesis that M-cell formation takes place throughout the dome epithelium by immune-induced transformation of already existing enterocytes.
Smith
M W
MW
Department of Cell Biology, AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Babraham, Cambridge.
Peacock
M A
MA
D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure*