ULTRASTRUCTURAL-CHANGES IN THE INTESTINAL ABSORPTIVE CELLS OF THE MOUSE INDUCED BY CAPSAICIN IN RELATION TO THIAMINE-ABSORPTION

The correlation between an inhibition of thiamine absorption and ultra structural changes in the intestinal absorptive cells of the mouse jej unum induced by capsaicin was examined. In mice fed with capsaicin 1 a nd 2 mg/kg BW/day for 12 weeks, thiamine absorption was inhibited by 2 .7% and 12.5% (p<0.001) respectively, Ultrastructural alterations were observed in villus absorptive cells of jejunum in mice fed with capsa icin 1 and 2 mg/kg BW/day for 12 weeks. The most striking ultrastructu ral changes occurred in mice fed with capsaicin 2 mg/kg BW/day for 12 weeks. The organelle most affected by capsaicin was the mitochondria. The result shows that the ultrastructural changes of intestinal absorp tive cells may be associated with the inhibition of thiamine absorptio n.