Abstract
This study tried to find what fat level of diets would have a good effect on recovery of the ultrastructure and the digestion-absorption function of jejunal absorptive cells in rats which had been subjected to starvation. Fat-free, 5% fat, 10% fat, or 20% fat diet was given for 3 days to the starved rats, and changes in the ultrastructure of the jejunal absorptive cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Also, glucose and triolein absorption were studied using an in situ perfusion system. Good recovery of the ultrastructure of jejunal absorptive cells was observed in rats re-fed the 5% fat diet. Glucose absorption did not differ among the groups except in rats given the 20% fat diet. However, triolein absorption in this group was lower than that of the other groups in both the upper and lower jejunum. The best fat level for recovery of the ultrastructure and absorption of glucose and triolein in the jejunal absorptive cells was concluded to be the 5% fat diet.
