Effects of cafeteria diet on the jejunum in sedentary and physically trained rats

• Published in: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.) Los Angeles County, Calif.), 2010-03, Vol.26 (3), p.312-320
• Main Authors: Scoaris, Célia Regina, M.D, Rizo, Gabriela Vasconcelos, M.D, Roldi, Luciana Patrícia, M.D, de Moraes, Solange Marta Franzói, Ph.D, de Proença, André Ricardo Gomes, M.Sc, Peralta, Rosane Marina, Ph.D, Natali, Maria Raquel Marçal, Ph.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities; Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - drug effects; alkaline phosphatase; animal models; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cafeteria diet; Colleges & universities; Diet; diet-related diseases; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary Fats - administration & dosage; Enzymatic activity; enzyme activity; experimental diets; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food Services; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; goblet cells; high fat diet; human diseases; human nutrition; intestinal crypts; Intestinal morphometry; intestinal mucosa; Jejunum; Jejunum - anatomy & histology; Jejunum - drug effects; length; Male; microstructure; Muscle, Smooth - drug effects; muscles; Myenteric neurons; neurons; Obesity; Obesity - enzymology; Obesity - etiology; Obesity - pathology; Organ Size; physical activity; Physical Conditioning, Animal - physiology; Physical training; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rodents; running; Small intestine; sucrose alpha-glucosidase; thickness; triacylglycerol lipase; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; villi
• ISSN: 0899-9007; 1873-1244
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.04.012

Abstract Objective The effects of a cafeteria diet on the small intestine were investigated in adult Wistar rats under sedentary conditions and after physical training. Methods Parameters including morphometry, enzyme activities, and total myenteric populations in the jejunum were evaluated. Results The cafeteria diet, characterized as hyperlipidic, produced obese rats, corroborated by increases in the Lee index and the weights of the periepididymal and retroperitoneal adipose tissues ( P < 0.01). Obesity caused increases in the length of the small intestine, villi height, crypt depth, whole-wall thickness ( P < 0.05), and the enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase, lipase, and sucrase ( P < 0.01), in addition to a reduction in the number of goblet cells ( P < 0.05). With reference to the jejunal intrinsic innervations, the total number and area of myenteric neurons was unchanged regardless of the group. Physical training promoted 1) a reduction of the weight in the retroperitoneal and periepididymal adipose tissues ( P < 0.05) and 2) an increase in the thickness of the muscular layer ( P < 0.05). Conclusion The cafeteria diet promoted obesity in rodents, leading to alterations in morphometry and enzymatic intestinal parameters, which were partily attenuated by physical training.