Remodeling of the microcirculation of the small intestine with a fatty diet in rats: an experimental randomized study

Abstract

Objective: To study the remodeling of hemo- and lymphomicrocirculation pathways and structures of the membranes of the small intestine in rats on isolated fatty diet. Methods: The study design is an experimental randomized study. A population of twenty 7-month-old Wistar rats, sexually mature male rats with weight 200-250 gr were divided into main (10 animals) and control (10 animals) groups. The main group was subjected exclusively to a fat diet, and the control group was on standard feed for a month. The age and body weight of the animals were measured and compared in the beginning of the experiment and before autopsy. On the 30th day, the animals were removed from the experiment and a histological analysis with morphometry of inner layer of small intestine and identification of changes in the microcirculatory bed were performed. The t-criterion of independent and paired samples was used for statistical analysis. Results: The animals in both groups were comparable by age and body weight. Over time, the weight of some animals decreased in each group (217.5 (18.5) gr vs. 211.8(18.2) gr, (p=0.0001) for the main group and increased 206.2 (10.6) gr vs. 240.6 (11.7) gr, (p=0.0001) for the control group). Remodeling of the small intestine is observed with noticeable changes in its morphology, manifested in a decrease in the height and thickness of the villi, as well as the thickness of the muscle layer, the depth of crypts and a reduction in the number of goblet cells. The above morphological changes are accompanied with inactivity of the villi capillaries and a sharp decrease in capillary blood flow. The absence of coarse feed in the diet of animals led to hypotrophy of the muscular lining of the small intestine. On the 30th day, in many villi, the bloodstream resembled the appearance of a burnt tree or bush, as individual capillary loops open and their venular ends disappear. Conclusion: Remodeling of the bloodstream vessels was observed in all layers of the small intestine in rats on fatty diet. Insufficiency of the vascularization of the mucous membrane of the small intestine was associated on the one hand with a change in all types of cell populations of the mucous membrane with their reduction, and on the other hand with hypofunction of the blood vessels of the villi of the small intestine and lymphostasis.

Keywords

• diet
• high-fat
• rats wistar
• intestine small
• microcirculation
• remodeling