Radiation-induced Mitotic Delay: Duration, Dose and Cell Position Dependence in the Crypts of the Small Intestine in the Mouse

Summary

The cells of the proliferative compartment in the crypt of the small intestine undergo a step by step differentiation and/or maturation from stem cells to the functional cells on the villi. The consequent hierarchical organization of the proliferative cell population can be related to the actual position of cells within the crypt. The stem cells are found near the bottom of the crypt with the more mature cells occurring at increasingly higher positions.

The sensitivity of proliferative cells in the crypt of small intestine to radiation-induced mitotic delay was investigated at each position within the crypt.

Using the stathmokinetic method (vincristine accumulation), the following were noted. (1) The yield of mitotic figures 3 h immediately after irradiation showed a strong cell position dependence with the cells at the base of the crypt being most inhibited and those at the top of the proliferative compartment least affected. (2) The mitotic yields were largely unaffected for the first 15 min suggesting that there is a transition point (Tp) for radiosensitivity which is located about 15 min before metaphase for all crypt cells. Cells located less than 15 min from metaphase are unaffected while those more than 15 min from metaphase are inhibited from further cell cycle progression. (3) After this initial delay all proliferative cells were inhibited in their progression through G₂ but some recovered more quickly than others. (4) The ratio of the time of division delay (Td) in stem cells to that in cells at the top of the proliferative compartment was about 3:1. (5) In absolute values Td after 1·0 Gy was about 1 h and 2·8 h, for cells at the top of the crypt and at the base, respectively. After 2·5 Gy the corresponding values were less than 3 h and between 5 and 6 h for the mid-crypt and crypt base respectively.

There is thus a dependence on dose for the duration of the mitotic inhibition which for the cells at the top of the crypt is similar to the widely quoted average value 1 h per Gy, but the duration depends strongly on cell position. Thus not all proliferative cells respond in the same way. The duration is shorter the closer the proliferative cells are to their last cell division in the proliferative hierarchy in the crypt and longest for cells situated where the stem cells are to be expected.

• mitotic delay
• intestinal crypts
• cell position