[The influence of vibramycin on the small intestine of the rat]

The experiments were carried out on the rats of Wistar race. One group administered vibramycin before expiration date for 10 days. Another group was given outdated vibramycin for the same period of time. The small intestine was examined histologically (hematoxylin and eosin) and histochemically (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, mucopolysaccharides, RNA). Division figures in small intestine epithelium were also counted. It was found out that the activity of acid phosphatase and RNA was increasing in animals obtaining vibramycin before expiration date. Mucopolysaccharides and alkaline phosphatase reacted weaker than in the control intestine. The intestinal mucosa showed considerable destruction. In both cases the number of division figures in the cells of small intestine epithelium decreased, particularly after administration of expired vibramycin.