Non-effect of an antibiotic treatment on dietary fiber-induced goblet cell proliferation in the ileum of rats.

We examined the effect or not of an antibiotic treatment on dietary fiber-induced goblet cell proliferation in the rat ileum. The number of goblet cells in the ileum increased when rats consumed dietary fiber. However, this effect was maintained with a concurrent treatment of antibiotics, suggesting that the fiber effect on goblet cell response would remain irrespective of a bacterial component such as endotoxin.