title: Bell-shaped nuclei dividing by symmetrical and asymmetrical nuclear fission have qualities of stem cells in human colonic embryogenesis and carcinogenesis.
abstract: Large cell nuclei with at least eight distinct morphologies have been discovered throughout the fetal gut (5-7 weeks), colonic adenomas, and adenocarcinomas, five of which are not present in the normal adult colon. The most remarkable nuclear forms are hollow bells, approximately 10-15 microns in height and about 7-10 microns in bell mouth diameter. When encased in tubular syncytia, these bell-shaped structures divide symmetrically by an amitotic nuclear fission process resembling the separation of two paper cups. Seven other nuclear morphotypes emerge from the bell-shaped nuclei within the syncytia by asymmetrical amitotic nuclear fission. Cells containing these differentiated nuclear forms subsequently divide extra-syncytially by mitoses that form clonal populations of cells with identical nuclear morphotypes in embryos, adenomas, adenocarcinomas, and metastases. Cells with bell-shaped nuclei thus appear to be responsible for both net growth and differentiation in the embryonic gut, adenomas, and adenocarcinomas, and fulfill the requirements for post-embryonic stem cells in colon organogenesis and carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Biological Engineering Division, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 02139, USA.
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Gostjeva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zukerberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Thilly
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003106:Colon / Q000196:embryology*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure*