title: The growth and life of a monoclonal crypt.
abstract: A computer simulation of a highly dynamic model for the birth, growth and adult life of a monoclonal crypt in the intestine was developed starting with a single precursor stem cell. The intestinal epithelial system was studied and observed in analogy to 'in vivo' experiments. The model output, e.g. the geometric shape of a crypt, mitotic index, labelling index and the crypt length distribution in adult state, was compared with experimental data. There was evidence from the simulation that a certain steady state in the adult life could be reached regardless of some harmless influences in post-natal life, e.g. the influence of being weaned or non-weaned. The model is based on our hypothesis of the generation-controlled proliferation mechanism and at the same time is a confirmation of it.
authors.affiliation: German Cancer Research Center, Department Medical and Biological Informatics, Heidelberg.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Meinzer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sandblad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007422:Intestines / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051379:Mice; D008871:Microvilli / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure