Studies of the growth and cell dynamics of the intestinal epithelium in corn and sorghum-fed rats
Vannucchi, H.; Zucolotto, S.; Moura Duarte, F.A.; Dutra de Oliveira, J.E.
Archivos Latinoamericanos de Nutricion 29(3): 375-385
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-0622 PMID: 543771 Document Number: 149503
For 13 weeks 30 male Wistar rats weighing initially about 174 g were given diets with protein about 7% supplied by maize, sorghum or casein. When the rats were killed, fragments of proximal jejunum and colon were studied microscopically. Rats given sorghum grew more slowly than those given maize. Study of mitotic and calciform cell indices showed that greater changes in cell dynamics occurred in rats given maize than in those given sorghum. Differences between rats fed on maize and those fed on sorghum cannot be explained only in terms of niacin deficiency.