Ultrastructural changes in the intestinal absorptive cells of the mouse induced by capsaicin in relation to thiamine absorption

Abstract

The correlation between an inhibition of thiamine absorption and ultrastructural changes in the intestinal absorptive cells of the mouse jejunum induced by capsaicin was examined. In mice fed with capsaicin 1 and 2 mg/ kg BW/day for 12 weeks, thiamine absorption was inhibited by 2.7% and 12.5% (p < 0.001) respectively. Ultrastructural alterations were observed in villus absorptive cells of jejunum in mice fed with capsaicin 1 and 2 mg/kg BW/day for 12 weeks. The most striking ultrastructural changes occurred in mice fed with capsaicin 2 mg/kg BW/day for 12 weeks. The organelle most affected by capsaicin was the mitochondria. The result shows that the ultrastructural changes of intestinal absorptive cells may be associated with the inhibition of thiamine absorption.