Cummins A G, Munro G H, Miller H R, Ferguson A
Gastro-Intestinal Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Immunol Cell Biol. 1988 Oct-Dec;66 ( Pt 5-6):417-22. doi: 10.1038/icb.1988.53.
Maturation of the small intestine at weaning has some features in common with immunological reactions involving the gut mucosa. Mucosal mast cell (MMC) activation is a prominent feature of both IgE and cell-mediated mucosal immune responses. MMC activation was therefore studied during the weaning period by measurement of rat mucosal mast cell protease II (RMCPII) release into the systemic circulation as well as MMC counts and jejunal RMCPII content. Maturation of the small intestine was measured by changes in villus and crypt length, and in crypt cell production rate (CCPR). At 3 weeks of age, serum RMCPII increased 17-fold and MMC showed features of degranulation. At the time of weaning (2-4 weeks), villus and crypt length and CCPR increased progressively to adult values. After weaning, serum RMCPII declined slowly to normal adult levels and MMC regained a normal appearance. This study showed a close association between MMC activation and maturation of the small intestine during the weaning period.
断奶时小肠的成熟具有一些与涉及肠道黏膜的免疫反应相同的特征。黏膜肥大细胞（MMC）激活是IgE和细胞介导的黏膜免疫反应的一个突出特征。因此，在断奶期间通过测量大鼠黏膜肥大细胞蛋白酶II（RMCPII）释放到体循环中的情况以及MMC计数和空肠RMCPII含量来研究MMC激活。通过绒毛和隐窝长度以及隐窝细胞产生率（CCPR）的变化来测量小肠的成熟情况。3周龄时，血清RMCPII增加了17倍，MMC呈现出脱颗粒的特征。在断奶时（2 - 4周），绒毛和隐窝长度以及CCPR逐渐增加至成年值。断奶后，血清RMCPII缓慢下降至正常成年水平，MMC恢复正常外观。这项研究表明在断奶期间MMC激活与小肠成熟之间存在密切关联。
