Cell proliferation in follicle-associated epithelium of mouse Peyer's patch.

Follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) from the mouse Peyer's patch consists of a dome part containing goblet as well as columnar epithelial cells and a crypt part, containing Paneth as well as goblet and undifferentiated epithelial cells. The proportions of columnar epithelial, goblet and Paneth cells in the FAE are similar to those found in normal crypt/villus complexes. Mitosis is confined to the crypts of the FAE. The cell-renewal time for FAE columnar epithelial cells, estimated from experiments using tritiated thymidine, is approximately 60 hours. Large numbers of lymphoid cells are also present in the FAE, particularly in regions distal to the crypts. The similarity between follicle-associated and villus epithelial structure is discussed, together with its possible relevance to "M" cell formation within the FAE.