title: Interactions between ingested kaolinite and the intestinal mucosa in rat: proteomic and cellular evidences.
abstract: Although some of the effects of clay ingestion by humans and animals, such as gastrointestinal wellness and the increase in food efficiency are well known, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Therefore, the interactions between the intestinal mucosa and kaolinite particles and their effects on mucosal morphology were observed using light microscopy (LM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), conventional (CSEM) and environmental (ESEM) scanning electron microscopy combined with an EDX micro-analysis system. Kaolinite consumption, given with free access to rats, varied considerably from one animal to the other but was regular through time for each individual. Some kaolinite particles appeared chemically dissociated in the lumen and within the mucus barrier. Aluminium (Al) originating from ingested clay and present in the mucus layer could directly cross the intestinal mucosa. A significant increase in the thickness of the villi with large vacuoles at the base of the mucosal cells and a decrease in the length of enterocyte microvilli characterized complemented animals. The proteomic analyses of the intestinal mucosa of complemented rats also revealed several modifications in the expression level of cytoskeleton proteins. In summary, kaolinite particles ingested as food complement interact with the intestinal mucosa and modify nutrient absorption. However, these data, together with the potential neurotoxicity of Al, need further investigation.
authors.affiliation: IPHC, Département Ecologie, Physiologie et Ethologie, ULP, CNRS, 23 rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. francois.reichardt@c-strasbourg.fr
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reichardt
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Habold
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaumande
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ehret-Sabatier
authors.forename: Yvon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Le Maho
authors.forename: Fabielle
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angel
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liewig
authors.forename: Jean-Hervé
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lignot
mesh_terms: D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D000077215:Clay; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007616:Kaolin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008871:Microvilli / Q000187:drug effects; D040901:Proteomics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D007616:Kaolin; D000077215:Clay