Microvillus growth and M‐cell formation in mouse Peyer's patch follicle‐associated epithelial tissue

Abstract

Development of microvillus structure on the surface of enterocytes migrating over follicle‐associated lymphoid tissue appears to take place in an identical way to that seen on villus enterocytes. M‐cells, which are not found in crypts, possess microvilli of constant length in all parts of the follicle dome epithelial tissue. The surface area of M‐cell microvilli is not however different from that determined on fully formed follicle‐associated enterocytes. These results support the hypothesis that M‐cell formation takes place throughout the dome epithelium by immune‐induced transformation of already existing enterocytes.