Late effects of early feeding of a low cholesterol diet on the intestinal active and passive transport properties in the rabbit.
It has previously been demonstrated that a short period of feeding of a low cholesterol diet (LCD) alters the active and passive transport properties of the intestine. This study was undertaken to determine the late effect of early nutrition with LCD. An in vitro technique was used to determine the uptake of glucose, galactose, leucine, medium- and long-chain fatty acids, cholesterol and bile acids into the jejunum, ileum and colon of rabbits. Five dietary groups were used: group A was fed chow for 16 weeks; group B was fed chow for 14 weeks followed by LCD for 2 weeks; group C was fed chow for 2 weeks, LCD for 2 weeks, chow for 10 weeks, and LCD for 2 weeks; group D was fed chow for 2 weeks and LCD for 14 weeks; and group E was fed chow for 2 weeks, LCD for 2 weeks and chow for 14 weeks. Animals fed LCD for 2 weeks at an early age demonstrated different alterations in the active and passive transport of these solutes as compared with animals exposed to LCD for only 2 weeks at a later age (group C vs. group D). Feeding the animals chow for 12 weeks after 2 weeks of LCD (group E) did not result in a normalization of the altered intestinal transport. The transport changes were progressive, with qualitative and quantitative differences in animals fed LCD for 2 weeks (group B) as compared with animals fed LCD for 14 weeks (group D). These changes in intestinal transport were not due to differences in food consumption or mucosal weight but were likely of nutritional significance, since the animals' body weight gain differed in animals fed chow as compared with those fed LCD. Thus, (1) feeding LCD is associated with alterations in the active and passive jejunal, ileal and colonic uptake of nutrients; (2) these alterations are influenced by the duration of feeding LCD; (3) the effects of LCD persist for at least 10 weeks after the diet is stopped and feeding with chow is restored; and (4) rechallenge with LCD following an earlier exposure to LCD is associated with an accentuation of the intestinal effects of LCD. It is concluded that these late effects of early nutrition with a low cholesterol diet upon intestinal transport function may have an important impact on the nutritional status of the animal.
Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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Thomson
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M
Keelan
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007082:Ileum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D007700:Kinetics; D007930:Leucine / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D007930:Leucine; D005947:Glucose; D005690:Galactose