title: Protein Malnutrition During Juvenile Age Increases Ileal and Colonic Permeability in Rats.
abstract: Protein malnutrition can lead to morphological and functional changes in jejunum and ileum, affecting permeability to luminal contents. Regarding the large intestine, data are scarce, especially at juvenile age. We investigated whether low-protein (LP) diet could modify ileal and colonic permeability and epithelial morphology in young rats. Isocaloric diets containing 26% (control diet) or 4% protein were given to male rats between postnatal days 40 and 60. LP-diet animals failed to gain weight and displayed decreased plasma zinc levels (a marker of micronutrient deficiency). In addition, transepithelial electrical resistance and occludin expression were reduced in their ileum and colon, indicating increased gut permeability. Macromolecule transit was not modified. Finally, LP diet induced shortening of colonic crypts without affecting muscle thickness. These data show that protein malnutrition increases not only ileum but also colon permeability in juvenile rats. Enhanced exposure to colonic luminal entities may be an additional component in the pathophysiology of protein malnutrition.
authors.affiliation: *Grupo de NeuroGastroBioquímica †Laboratorio de Química Analítica y Ambiental, Instituto de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso ‡Laboratorio de Inmunogastroenterología, Servicio de Gastroenterología, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Johana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eyzaguirre-Velásquez
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olavarría-Ramírez
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González-Arancibia
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz-Merino
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ariz
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Quiroz
authors.forename: Caroll J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.forename: Javier A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Julio-Pieper
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007082:Ileum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010539:Permeability; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley