Crypt fission contributes to postnatal epithelial growth of the small intestine in pigs
Studies on growth of the small intestine have mostly concentrated on crypt hyperplasia rather than crypt fission (CF). The process of crypt bifurcation has been identified in rodents and humans but not in swine. The main aims of this study were: 1) to investigate quantitatively crypt fission in the small intestine mucosa of pigs of different age-groups and 2) to assess the effect of colostrum and