PERMANENT MORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS INDUCED BY SODIUM SACCHARIN ON MICE LARGE-INTESTINE EPITHELIUM

The present study reports experimental evidence showing that the absor ptive cells of the large intestine exhibit modifications that do not d isappear when sodium saccharin administration is discontinued. Our exp erimental cohort consisted of C3H(s) strain mice fed with a diet suppl emented with sodium saccharin for 180 days, followed by an equal perio d with the same basic diet without the compound. At the end of this pe riod, the samples obtained underwent histological processing under ele ctron microscopy. We demonstrated that, under experimental conditions, the absorptive cells of mice large intestine present alterations like pleomorphic microvilli, and membrane fusion with formation of excresc ences. The lesions were found to be irreversible. These observations d escribing lesions caused by sodium saccharin in mice should warn about the risks involved in the careless ingestion of such a toxic substanc e.