Acute heat stress in growing rats: effect on small intestinal morphometry and in vivo absorption

Abstract

1. 1.|Young growing rats (35-45 g) were exposed to high ambient temperature (37 ± 1°C) for 24 h, while the controls were kept at 24 ± 2°C. 2. 2.|Quantitative morphometry based on stereological principle and absorptive studies by an in vivo method were performed to evaluate the structural and functional adaptations of the small intestine in rats exposed to heat. 3. 3.|The effect of heat stress on various morphometric dimensions of the small intestine shows significant reduction in dry weight, villus height, villus surface area, crypt depth, while the absorptive study shows, significant decrease in absorption per unit dry weight, unit length and unit villus surface area of the small intestine as compared to the control. 4. 4.|This adaptive alteration in the structure and function of the small intestine indicates the change in the mucosal dynamics of gut epithelium in heat stress. © 1993.