Effects of Oral Administration of Vitamin D3 Metabolites on Histological Changes of Intestinal Mucosa

Abstract

Effect of administration of active vitamin D3 on the histological changes of intestinal mucosa was studied in normal rats treated with 0.25 to 0.5 μg of lα(OH)D3 or lα,25(OH)2D3. Mucosal thickness, cell count and volume, mucosal mass, and nuclear size were morpho-metrically measured in the villi and crypts. In the villi, both la(OH)D3 and lα,25(OH)2D3 significantly increased the cell counts, moderately increased the thickness, and slightly increased the cell volume, compared with the control group. Neither agent had any effect on the crypts. Nuclear size in villi was increased only in the lα,25(OH)2D3 group. © 1987, SOCIETY FOR FREE RADICAL RESEARCH JAPAN. All rights reserved.