Study on Ultra-Structural Numerical Changes in the Intestinal Mucosal Epithelial Cell Microvilli after Excessive Zinc Supplementation in Wistar Rat

Abstract

The present study was aimed to study the ultra-structural numerical changes in the microvilli of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells (IMECs) after excessive Zn supplementation in wistar rats. In this study, three groups of rats were fed on an equicaloric sugar and fat rich semi-synthetic diet containing 20mg (control, group-I), 50mg (group-II) and 80mg Zn /kg (group-III) diet respectively for 4 months. The data of the study revealed an increase in surface area of intestinal absorption site through increase in the number and height of microvilli/cell in Zn concentration dependent manner. Further, the result of the study reveals the presence of higher Zn concentrations in IMECs (tissue) and higher absorption rates (HARs) of 14C-glucose (μmoles/g.5min) and amino acids namely 14C-L-alanine and 14C-L-isoleucine (μmoles/g.5min) in group-II and III than that of control group-I. Thus, high Zn supplementation for a longer period of time alters ultrastructure of intestinal mucosal epithelial cell microvilli and increase absorption of nutrients in wistar rats.