Numerous huge iron particles appeared around micro blood vessels under intestinal epithelial cells in infant mice fed excess iron with protein.
In infant mice (2 weeks old) fed a diet with excess iron for one week, numerous huge iron particles around micro blood vessels under the basement membrane of intestinal epithelial cells were observed by electron microscopy. The frequency of occurrence of these particles (0.24 +/- 0.04 micron diameter) was markedly higher in mice fed a casein-based diet than in mice fed an amino acid-based diet. The quantity of these particles in both groups decreased in proportion to the term of 2 or 3 weeks. Changes in morphological features, such as opening of the intercellular junctions between intestinal epithelial cells, were also observed in these experimental groups. On the other hand, in mice fed the casein-based diet with excess iron, fat globules appeared in the intestinal epithelial tissue (intestinal epithelial cells, interstitial tissue, lympha) and the occurrence of these increased gradually in proportion to the term of feeding. These fat globules were not observed in mice fed the amino acid-based diet with excess iron. These phenomena might be elicited temporally in infant mice fed excess iron together with protein. The mechanisms of fat globule formation remain unclear.
Hagiwara
T
T
Nutritional Science Laboratory, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, Japan.
Ozawa
K
K
Fukuwatari
Y
Y
Hayasawa
H
H
Hirohata
Y
Y
Adachi
A
A
Aihara
K
K
Kanda
S
S
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000737:chemistry; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply*; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000737:chemistry; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007501:Iron