Epithelial Cell Dynamics in Transmissible Gastroenteritis of Neonatal Pigs

Abstract

Tritiated thymidine was given to pigs that had been exposed to transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and specimens of small intestine for autoradiographic studies were subsequently obtained. There was villous atrophy in the jejunum and ileum, but not duodenum, of the infected pigs by 48 h after exposure. Rates of migration of epithelial cells were substantially greater, and DNA synthesis occurred at a greater distance from the base of the crypts in the jejunum and ileum of infected than control pigs. Total numbers of labeled cells were two to three times greater in the jejunum and ileum of infected than control pigs. These findings indicate that viral destruction of villous epithelial cells results in an increased rate of cell migration in the jejunum and ileum, which is responsible for the appearance of incompletely differentiated cells on the villi of pigs with transmissible gastroenteritis.