MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE SUBMUCOSAL GLANDS OF THE RAT DUODENUM UNDER THE EFFECT OF THE COMPLEX OF FOOD ADDITIVES

Aim. To establish the dynamics of changes in the morphometric parameters of the acini of the submucosal glands of the rat duodenum under normal conditions and under the complex effect of food additives. Materials and methods. The study involved 84 sexually mature male rats, of which 14 animals made up the control group. They consumed drinking water and were orally administered physiological saline, while 70 rats in the experimental group were administered 0.6 mg/kg sodium nitrite, 20 mg/kg monosodium glutamate and 5 mg/kg Ponceau 4R in 0.5 ml of distilled water orally once a day. The animals were withdrawn from the experiment after 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. After euthanizing the animals, pieces of the duodenal wall were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. The sections, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, were examined using a digital microscope. Statistical processing of morphometric data was performed using Excel software. Results. The consumption of the complex of food additives in the early stages of the experiment was manifested by a significant increase in the outer diameter of the ducts and the height of the epithelial cells by 33.33%, compared to the control group of animals (p<0.05). This was a sign of compensatory enhancement of the secretory activity of Brunner’s gland cells in response to the presence of metabolites in the lumen of the duodenum. Subsequently, restructuring of the secretory apparatus was established in favor of carbohydrate production. The increased secretory activity led to the depletion of the glandular secretory apparatus by the end of the experiment, with the height of the epithelial cells being by 3.83% significantly lower than in the control group of animals, along with the development of desquamation phenomena and leukocyte infiltration. Conclusions. The consumption of monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrite and Ponceau 4R leads to changes in the morphometric parameters of the acini of the glands in response to the presence of metabolites in the lumen of the duodenum and a general reaction caused by the components of the complex. Due to the inability to recover through compensatory-repair mechanisms of the body, depletion of the glandular secretory apparatus, desquamation of the secretory epithelium, and leukocyte infiltration was established.