OBJECTIVETo explore a method which can remove the gastric mucus in order to prepare mucous membrane single cell suspension for the research of cytomics.

METHODSEnzymology was used to remove the mucus gel and to separate mucous layer from the normal fresh gastric tissue. The mucous layer was broken to prepare single cell suspension with machine method. Expression of major cyclins in mucous layer cells was examined by cytoimmunochemistry, flow cytometry(FCM) and confocal microscopy.

RESULTSThe 0.1% pepsin could dissolve the mucus gel and 1.2-2.4 U/L dispase could separate the mucous layer completely. The single mucous cell suspension was prepared successfully. FCM results from mucous single cell suspension revealed that expression of cyclin D(3), B(1) was obvious, that of cyclin D(2) was weak and that of cyclin D(1), A, E was the least. Similar results were found with confocal microscopy.

CONCLUSIONSSingle cell suspension from mucous layer can be easily prepared by pepsin and dispase. Cyclins schedule expression in vivo is different from cyclins schedule expression in vitro.