Interspersed among the enterocytes aregoblet cellsthat secretemucusto line the luminalsurface. Between the villi are pits called thecrypts of Lieberkuhn. Cells in the crypts are continuous with the villus layer. Somecrypt cellssecrete water and electrolytes, whereas other cells,enterochromaffin cells, ...
Each crypt generates four types of terminally differentiated cells: enterocytes, goblet cells (secrete mucus), enteroendocrine cells, and Paneth cells (produce lysozymes), all serving as a barrier to bacteria. Unlike the other cells, the Paneth cells remain anchored in the lower portion of the ...
Mesenchymal cells in the crypt play indispensable roles in the maintenance of intestinal epithelial homeostasis through their contribution to the preservation of stem cells. However, the acquisition properties of the production of stem cell niche factors by the mesenchymal cells have not been well elucid...