Morphological Adaptive Changes of Small Intestinal Tract Regions due to Pregnancy and Lactation in Rats

Abstract
In order to know the adaptive changes of small intestine regions (duodenum, and proximal, medial and distal jejunum-ileum) due to the reproductive stage (virgin, pregnancy and lactation), the weight, mucosal proportion, mucosal DNA and protein contents and protein/DNA ratio in female Wistar rats were measured. Pregnancy induces hypertrophy of the proximal half of the small intestine (duodenum and proximal jejunum-ileum), whereas lactation induces hyperplasia in all small intestinal regions and also hypertrophy but only in the duodenum.

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