DISACCHARIDASE LEVELS IN NORMAL EPITHELIUM OF THE SMALL-INTESTINE OF RATS WITH IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Iron-deficiency anemia is the nutritional deficiency most frequently o ccurring throughout the world, which manifests as a complex systemic d isease involving all cells, affecting enzyme activities and modifying protein synthesis. In view of these considerations, the objective of t he present study was to determine the effects of iron-deficiency anemi a on disaccharidases and on the epithelial morphokinetics of the jejun al mucosa, Newly weaned male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals each: C6w received a standard ration containing 36 mg elem ental iron per kg ration for 6 weeks; E6w received an iron-poor ration (5-8 mg/kg ration) for 6 weeks; C10w received an iron-rich ration (36 mg/kg ration) for 10 weeks; E10w received an iron-poor ration for 6 w eeks and then an iron-rich ration (36 mg/kg) for an additional 4 weeks . Jejunal fragments were used to measure disaccharidase content and to study cell proliferation. The following results were obtained: 1) a s ignificant reduction (P<0.001) of animal weight, hemoglobin (Hb), seru m iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) in group E6w as compared to C6w; reversal of the alterations in Hb, serum iron and TIBC with i ron repletion (E10w = C10w); animal weights continued to be significan tly different in groups E10w and C10w. 2) Sucrase and maltase levels w ere unchanged; total and specific lactase levels were significantly lo wer in group E6w and this reduction was reversed by iron repletion (E1 0w = C10w). 3) The cell proliferation parameters did not differ betwee n groups. On the basis of these results, we conclude that lactase prod uction was influenced by iron deficiency and that this fact was not re lated to changes in cell population and proliferation in the intestina l mucosa.