Increased number of proliferating cells in K8^+/- but unaltered anoikis of colonic crypts.

<p>A. and B. Mice were injected with BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) i.p. 4 hours before sacrifice and proliferative cells were stained with anti-BrdU and quantified. Proliferating cells were significantly increased in both K8^<b>+/-</b> and K8^<b>-/-</b> mice DC (distal colon; A. b, c) and PC (proximal colon; A. e, f) compared to K8^<b>+/+</b> mice (A. a, d). Scale (a, d) = 50 μm. Brackets indicate the proliferative cell zone at the bottom of the crypt. B. The fraction of proliferative cells was quantified by counting the number of proliferative cells in relation to the total number of cells in the colonic crypts. Increased number of BrdU positive cells directly indicates the hyperproliferation in K8^<b>+/-</b> and K8^<b>-/-</b> colon. *** p<0.001. C. The level of apoptosis was assessed from K8^<b>+/-</b> and K8^<b>-/-</b> colon lysates by immunoblotting for cleaved caspase 7 (cCasp7) directly after excising from the mouse or after 1 hour of incubation at 37°C in cell culture medium. Hsc70 and caspase 7 (Casp7) were used as loading controls.