Abstract
Acute starvation produces atrophy of intestinal mucosa, but the relation between intestinal adaptation and diet compositon is scarcely known. To evaluate aspects of that relationship we studied 96 female rats, 200 grs weight, who where submitted to 4 days fasting. Groups of 16 rats were refed with: A) Lipids (soya bean oil + ovolecythin), protein (casein) and carbohydrates (glucose, maltose, polysaccharides). B) Lipids, 100% total calories. C)Proteins, 100% of calories. D) Carbohydrates, 100% total calories. Every diet group was divided in two of 8 rats each, receiving either 24 or 48 h of refeeding. Afterwards they were killed. Results were compared to controls who were normally fed or starved for 4 days. Fasting provoked decrease of intestinal lenght (18.2% of normal) at jejunum and ileum, weight (34.3 and 21.8%), mucosa/cm (35.1 and 28.6%), protein/cm (40.4 and 53.4%) DNA/cm (37.4 and 71.8%), height of villi (20.9 and 11.6) and depth of crypt in jejunum and ileum (21.5 and 17.5). Intestinal lenght became normal after refeeding with all diets; lipids and carbohydrates showed opposite effects in the weight improvement of each intestinal segment. Protein and DNA content of the jejunum improved within 24 hours of refeeding. After 48 hrs., with all diets, ileum protein remained deficient (x 2841 vs 4857 ug/cm of normals, p < 0.001) and DNA was normal. Intestinal villi and crypts were recovered after 48 h on diet B, in the jejunum; or D at the ileum. We conclude that refeeding provokes different improvement of intestinal components according to the time and type of diet, in rats who were previously starved.
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Barudi, C., Viverman, J., Antoine, J. et al. 31. INTESTINAL ADAPTATION TO ACUTE STARVATION IN RATS. EFFECTS OF REFEEDING. Pediatr Res 23, 652 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198806000-00054
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198806000-00054