© 1994 by Oxford University Press
research-article |
Effect of Perfusion of Oral Rehydration Solutions Containing Glucose Polymers from Corn on Disaccharidases and Mucosal Morphology in Rat Small Intestines
The Department of Pediatrics, International Institute for Infant Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Disease, Hahnemann University Broad and Vine Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192, USA
Professor Emanuel Lebenthal, Department of Pediatrics and Director, International Institute for Infant Nutrition and Gastrointestinal Disease, Mail Stop 402, Hahnemann University, Broad and Vine Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192, USA
This study aims to determine the effect of glucose and glucose polymers (GP) from corn in oral rehydration solutions (ORS) on disaccharidases and morphometric measurements in small intestinal mucosa of rats. ORS containing standard composition of salts as in WHO ORS and 2, 5, or 10 per cent glucose or GP [initial glucose polymers, long chain (>9 molecules) and short chain (29 molecules) glucose polymers] from corn were infused into the duodenum of 72 Sprague-Dawley rats (250350 g). Six rats were sham operated as controls. The levels of Iactase, sucrase, maltase, palatinase, and glucoamylase enzymes were higher in rats infused with ORS-containing glucose or GP than control rats. Villus height, villas width, and crypt height in corresponding segments of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were not significantly different between rats perfused with ORS containing glucose polymers from com and those with ORS containing glucose. ORS containing GP from corn have no adverse effects on small intestinal enzymes and morphometric measurements.