An investigation into the reversibility of the morphological and cytokinetic changes seen in the small intestine of riboflavin deficient rats

• Published in: Gut Vol. 39; no. 2; pp. 220 - 225
• Main Authors: Williams, E A, Rumsey, R D, Powers, H J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology 01.08.1996; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Antimetabolites; Biological and medical sciences; Bromodeoxyuridine; Cell Movement; Glutathione Reductase - blood; Intestinal Mucosa - physiopathology; Intestine, Small - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Other nutritional diseases (malnutrition, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies...); Rats; Rats, Wistar; Riboflavin - administration & dosage; Riboflavin Deficiency - metabolism; Riboflavin Deficiency - pathology; Riboflavin Deficiency - physiopathology; Weaning; Rat; Rodentia; Nutrition disorder; Vitamin deficiency; Experimental study; Small intestine; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Morphology; Ariboflavinosis; Running; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Reversibility; Biological effect; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0017-5749; 1468-3288; 1458-3288
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.39.2.220

BACKGROUND: Impaired iron handling in riboflavin deficiency is thought to be partially a result of significant morphological and cytokinetic changes within the small intestine. AIMS: The aim of the study was to find out if the responses of the rat small intestine to riboflavin deficiency induced at weaning could be reversed upon repletion. SUBJECTS: 48 female weanling Wistar rats were used for the purpose of the study. METHODS: Rats were fed a riboflavin deficient diet or a complete control diet for a period of five weeks followed by a repletion period of up to three weeks. Rats were killed on day 0, 2, 7, or 21 of repletion. The duodenum was removed and fixed for subsequent analysis. RESULTS: Five weeks of riboflavin deficiency significantly changed the morphology and cytokinetics of the duodenum; the changes were not reversed within the 21 day repletion period despite biochemical evidence for a correction of the deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the small intestine cannot readily recover from a period of riboflavin deficiency induced at weaning, supporting the notion that the weaning period is a critical time for gastrointestinal development and highlighting the importance of adequate nutrition during infancy.