Cell differentiation in intestinal adenomatosis of pigs studied by histochemistry of laminin and enzymes of epithelial and subepithelial tissue

The distribution of enzymes and laminin was examined in ileal tissue from pigs suffering from intestinal adenomatosis to reveal the nature of the lesion. A disruption of the normal and specific pattern of distribution was found. Thus, the normal ileal epithelium was characterised by brush border enzymes: alkaline phosphatase, magnesium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Mg-ATPase), fluoride resistant acid phosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase; enzymes of the basolateral border: Mg-ATPase; and cytoplasmic enzymes: beta-glucuronidase, non-specific esterase and acid phosphatase. Subepithelial fibroblasts seemed to be characterised by 5'-nucleotidase. Laminin was present as a continuous band under the surface and crypt epithelium, somewhat thicker in the former. In contrast, the branching proliferating crypts of intestinal adenomatosis largely lacked enzymes characteristic of both villus and crypt cells. Reactions for the subepithelial components, laminin and fibroblasts were also reduced. The deficient differentiation of the epithelial as well as subepithelial components in porcine intestinal adenomatosis distinguish the condition from crypt hyperplasia and indicate an adenoma-like character.