Response of rat colonic mucosa to a high fiber diet.

Secreting lubricating mucins, colonic crypt goblet cells, contribute to the intestinal protection against mechanical challenge. After feeding germ-free (GF) and specific pathogen-free (SPF) AS/Ztm rats for 6 weeks, the proliferative response of colonic goblet to a commercial bulky diet (37.1% fiber) was compared to that of a standard diet. (4.4% fiber). An increased uptake of the high fiber diet by GF rats significantly augmented the capacity for mucin secretion as indicated by the amount and length of crypts, crypt cells and mature goblet cells. The response of SPF rats was limited to a crypt elongation, generated by more crypt cells. In both study groups, the goblet cell replication activity was similar to their controls. The increase in the mucin-secreting capacity, induced by a constant mechanical challenge, highly suggests an improved intestinal protection.