ABSTRACT
This study was untertaken to investigate the morphological changes of the intestine of the Golden Hamster after treatment with antimetabolites, 6-aminonicotinamide (6-AN), by light and electron microscopy. 6-AN induced a morphological change of the intestine, especially in the mucosa. Small and large vacuoles were created in the cytoplasm of enterocytes after 6-AN treatment, and these vacuoles were observed somewhat more often around the nucleus. Microvilli, nucleus and rER of the enterocytes were well preserved, but the mitochondria were showed a somewhat swollen appearance. Intercellular spaces between epithelial cells were enlarged, and the interdigitation of adjacent cytoplasmic processes formed by lateral cellular processes projecting from adjacent cells were observed with occasional appearance of blood cells in this space. Goblet cells and enteroendocrine cells were less affected by 6-AN than enterocytes. There were many lymphocytes, macrophages and degenerating cells in the lamina propria. Cytoplasmic inclusions with varying size and characteristics as well as cellular debrises of the degenerating cells were observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages. The myenteric plexus was changed by this antimetabolites. Ganglion cells did not change in their shape after treatment with 6-AN, but some structural changes were observed in the neuroglial cells and nerve fibers, and enlarged spaces between these structures were also observed. But no vacuoles were observed which were formed by degeneration of the intracellular organelles such as the mitochondria and the cisterna of the endoplasmic reticulum.