title: Effect of vitamin A deficiency on rat intestinal digestive & absorptive functions.
abstract: The effect of vitamin A deficiency on the intestinal absorption of nutrients and the activities of brush border enzymes were studied in albino rats. Intestinal uptakes of D-glucose, L-methionine, L-tryptophan and L-histidine were significantly greater in vitamin A-deficient animals than in controls. The specific activities of total adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), ouabain-sensitive ATPase, maltase and sucrase in the intestinal mucosa of vitamin A-deprived rats were 121, 124, 131 and 134 per cent respectively, of the corresponding values in control animals. The DNA content of the small intestine in vitamin A-deficient rats was 36.5 per cent lower than in control rats. The stimulation in digestive and absorptive capacity appears to be an adaptive change in vitamin A-deficiency which decreases the intestinal cell population.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Kansal
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004063:Digestion / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D005947:Glucose