[Morphological changes in the organs of rats subjected to limited feeding and physical loading]

Changes in the liver, stomach, small intestine, kidneys, lungs, myocardium, aorta, spleen and mesenterial lymph nodes are studied histologically in 120 male white rats from the Wistar line, subjected to a deficient alimentation regime, with and without physical exertion. The observed slight degree of adiposogenital dystrophy of the liver during free feeding regime indicates that the latter is equivalent to overfeeding. Variations from the normal histological picture in some organs (liver, myocardium, stomach and small intestine) are detected in the groups undergoing rather prolonged, moderate undernourishment--a sign of the sensitivity of these organs to the limited supply of nutritive ingredients. Physical loading, combined with free alimentary regimen, exert a beneficial effect on the organism which is suggested by the morphological data disclosing a slightly enhanced function of the myocardium and kidneys in these animals.