Morphoquantitative study of the duodenum myenteric plexus from rats subjected to lack of proteic and complex B vitamins - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v26i2.1642

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effects of protein and vitamin deficiency on the neurons of the duodenum myenteric plexus of rats. 24 90-day old animals were divided in two groups: control (n=12) and experimental (n=12). During 120 days, the control group received chow with 22% protein level, vitamins and minerals; the experimental group was fed with 8%-protein chow, without vitamin supplementation. After the experimental period, the animals’ blood was collected and the duodenum was removed for ultrastructural and morphoquantitative analyses (NADH-d; NADPH-d). The experimental group had reduced total protein, plasma albumin and body weight lower than the control group. The density (NADPH-d) was higher and significant for the experimental group; with the NADH-d technique the neuronal profile differed between the groups. The ultrastructural aspects were similar in both groups. The results allow the conclusion that the diet caused a moderate deficiency, not leading to quantitative alterations, but changed the neuronal profile