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The gastrointestinal tract in hypokinetic rats
P Groza1, A Bordeianu, S Cananau
1"D. Danielopolu Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology", Bucharest, Romania.
Life Sciences and Space Research
|January 1, 1979
Summary
Hypokinesia, or reduced movement, alters gastrointestinal glands in rats, affecting mucus and enzyme production. These changes, linked to stress, resolve after 60 days of immobility.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
- Histology
Background:
- Hypokinesia, a state of reduced physical activity, can induce physiological stress responses.
- Gastrointestinal gland function is sensitive to environmental and physiological changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of hypokinesia on the morphology and function of gastrointestinal glands in Wistar rats.
- To determine the time course of these alterations during prolonged hypokinetic states.
Main Methods:
- Histochemical and electron microscopic examination of submaxillary, gastric, duodenal, and intestinal glands.
- Assessment of gastrointestinal secretion and enzyme activity.
- Histological analysis of stomach submucosa.
Main Results:
- Reduced mucopolysaccharide content in submaxillary, gastric, and duodenal glands after 15-30 days of hypokinesia.
- Increased gastric secretion and pepsinogen production, with elevated enterocyte enzyme activity (leucine aminopeptidase, phosphatases).
- Eosinophil accumulation in the stomach submucosa, with changes most pronounced at 15 days and resolving by 60 days.
Conclusions:
- Hypokinesia induces significant, reversible morphological and functional changes in the gastrointestinal tract of rats.
- These alterations are likely mediated by a stress response involving glucocorticoid hypersecretion.
- The findings highlight the impact of immobility on digestive system physiology.