HEPATOTOXIC AGENT THIOACETAMIDE INDUCES BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN RAT SMALL-INTESTINE

We have assessed the effect of the oral ingestion of thioacetamide on small intestine structure and function. Thioacetamide-treated rats sho wed diminished mucosa weight; protein, DNA, and RNA content; and leuci ne aminopeptidase activity as compared to controls in both jejunum and ileum. In the jejunum, there was a reduction in the activities of alk aline phosphatase, ATPase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and myeloperoxidase, whereas in the ileum, maltase, lactase, and gamma-glutamyltranspeptid ase were reduced. In both jejunum and ileum we found enlarged intercel lular spaces, dark epithelial enterocytes, and lymphocyte infiltration . Enterocytes showed lobulated nuclei, deranged mitochondria with loss of their cristae, dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum containing dens e material, and Vesiculation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and t he Golgi apparatus. Smooth muscle cells of the intestine exhibited ult rastructural alterations. These findings indicate that chronic oral in take of thioacetamide mimics not only hepatic alterations but also sma ll intestine alterations normally associated with human cirrhosis.