No abstract

In this study, the morphological and morphometric changes and the histochemical and lectin histochemical carbohydrate pattern in the colon and rectum of rabbits intoxicated by Solanum glaucophyllum were analyzed. Twenty-five 3-month-old New Zealand male rabbits were fed with a standard diet free of calcinogenic substances and water ad libitum. Ten animals were experimentally intoxicated per os with 125 mg/animal of powdered Sg leaves twice a week until they were killed. Five of them were killed 15 days after the beginning of the intoxication (I1515 group), whereas the other 5 were left for another 15 days (I3030 group). Five more animals were intoxicated for 15 days but killed after 45 days (probably recovered group - PRG1545). The following parameters were evaluated: area, length, width, perimeter of the crypts, and the thickness of the intestinal wall and muscular layer. Our results showed different morphological and histochemical changes in the colon and rectum in response to S. glaucophyllum intoxication. The morphometric parameters studied in the rectum were not statistically significant between groups. However, the lowest values were found in the I1515 animals suggesting that longer intoxication time may provide an adaptive capacity.