title: Effect of pectin, a soluble dietary fiber, on functional and morphological parameters of the small intestine in rats.
abstract: We investigated the effects of pectin, a soluble dietary fiber, on functional and morphological parameters of the small intestine in rats. A control group and a pectin-fed group were given a fiber-free elemental liquid diet and an elemental liquid diet containing 2.5% (w/w) pectin, respectively, for 2 weeks. The ileal mucosal specific activities of maltase, sucrase and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly in the pectin-fed group. Maltose absorption of the ileum, studied in vitro by the method of everted sacs and disaccharide-dependent potential difference, increased significantly in the pectin-fed group. The length of the small intestine as well as the villus height and crypt depth of both the jejunum and the ileum were significantly greater in the pectin-fed group. The crypt cell production rate of the jejunum and the ileum was also significantly greater in the pectin-fed group. Plasma enteroglucagon, but not gastrin, increased significantly in the pectin-fed group. These data suggest that pectin feeding results in hyperplasia of the small-intestinal mucosa and a significant increase in the enzyme activities of the brush border membrane of the ileum.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bamba
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hosoda
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008320:Maltose / Q000378:metabolism; D010368:Pectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013393:Sucrase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008320:Maltose; D010368:Pectins; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D013393:Sucrase