impact of barley on monosodium glutamate induced changes in duodenal villi of young mice light and electron microscopic study

ABSTRACT

Diet is an important factor in the regulation of body physiological activities especially at young ages and its maintenance in later life. Barely as high fibre diet, affects the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. In the present work, 40 young mice were used to investigate the effect of barley on the intestinal changes that might occur after monosodium glutamate [MSG] induced obesity-despite the absence of overeating. Animals were divided into 4 groups each of 10 mice, the first group served as control, fed on ordinary balanced diet and received 0.5 ml of distilled water for 21 days. The second group was fed on ground barley ad libitum for 21 days. The third group received MSG in daily oral dose of 2 mg/g body weight for 21 days. The fourth group was fed on ground barley ad libitum simultaneously with the same daily dose of MSG as in group three for the same period. Light and electron microscopic investigation of the group of animals that received MSG revealed localized loss of microvillus border and vacuolation of some enterocytes while other cells showed apparent hyperplasia. The core of the villi exhibited edema and cellular infilteration. In addition, the mitochondria revealed marked loss of cristae. Scanning electron microscopic examination [SEM] showed deformed villi in some areas while other villi exhibited sloughing of their tips. On the contrary, in animals treated with MSG simultaneously with barley, the villi revealed structure almost similar to that of the villi of control group. Consequently, based on these results, it is possible to suggest that dietary barley may have a significant importance in protection against MSG-induced perturbation in duodenal villi