ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of intestinal epithelial stem cell markers Msil and Hesl in mouse acute radiation enteritis (RE) model. Methods Forty female BALB/c mice were undergone one-time whole abdominal irradiation by 300 cGy/min β-ray. Thirty mice were selected before irradiation (Day 0) and every six mice were euthanized at day 3,5,7 and 14 after irradiation. The small intestinal were detached and the expression of Msil and Hesl were detected in middle part of small intestinal by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blots, and immunohistochemistry. Subsequently,the difference of Msil and Hesl expression was compared. Results The mouse acute RE model was successfully established. At the 5th day after radiation, the results of quantitative RT-PCR indicated that the relative ΔCt value of Msil and Hesl expression were 15. 17 ± 0. 47 and 15. 83 ± 0. 24respectively, the results of Western blot showed that the integrated intensity were 0. 443±0. 055 and 0. 301 + 0. 047 for Msil and Hesl. The expressions were significantly higher than other time points at RNA and protein levels (P<0. 05). The results of immunohistochemistry revealed that Msil and Hesl were highly expressed in intestinal crypts at 5th day and 7th day. Conclusions The expression of Msil and Hesl, upregulated before wound repair in RE model, indicates that intestinal epithelial repair is related to intestinal stem cell proliferation.