Se. Fleming et al., INTESTINAL-CELL PROLIFERATION IS INFLUENCED BY INTAKES OF PROTEIN ANDENERGY, AFLATOXIN, AND WHOLE-BODY RADIATION, Nutrition and cancer, 22(1), 1994, pp. 11-30
Intestinal epithelial cell proliferation in young male F344 rats was m
easured in response to dietary protein content (5%, 10%, and 20% casei
n diets), energy restriction (energy intake was 60% of ad libitum ener
gy intakes of animals consuming the 20% casein diet), total diet restr
iction (dietary intake was 60% of the ad libitum intake of 20% casein
diet group), aflatoxin administration, and whole body irradiation. Cel
lular proliferation was measured in sections of jejunum, ileum, proxim
al colon, and distal colon with the [H-3]thymidine technique. Restrict
ing energy or total diet intakes by 40% from ad libitum levels reduced
proliferation in epithelial cells throughout the intestine. In compar
ison to the 5% casein diet, the 20% casein diet resulted in modestly l
ower cellular proliferation in all intestinal segments. Radiation indu
ced a decrease in cellular proliferation in the jejunum and ileum; thi
s decrease was prevented by a 20% casein diet. Pretreatment with aflat
oxin B-1 decreased intestinal cell proliferation throughout the intest
ine, and this decrease was not influenced by the protein content of th
e diet.