[Effect of a diet with excess cellulose on the morphofunctional status of the duodenal glands in the rat].

The developmental degree of the duodenal glands and their functional activity have been studied in rats given food with an increased contents of cellulose. In 3 months in the duodenum of the test animals extent of the glandular field increases significantly in comparison to the intact animals. This increase is connected with new formation of the gland terminal parts from epithelium of the intestinal crypts in the more caudal parts of the gut. Simultaneously, functional activity of the glandular cells increases; this is evident from elevated concentration of RNA in nucleoli, share of the nucleoli with predominant contents of euchromatin, and also from decreased concentration of PAS-positive secretion in the terminal parts. These differences can be connected with changes in pH of the stomach contents towards acidic value, when excess of cellulose is taken.