Effect of Protein Deficiency Diet on Gastric Histology and Histomorphometric Indices in Mice Animal Model

Background: In the long run, diets can affect the histological structure and histomorphometry of the gastrointestinal tract in order to adapt to the diet and provide its primary role of absorbing the necessary materials and energy for the organism’s survival. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effect of dietary protein deficiency on the histology and histomorphometric indices of stomach and blood chemical parameters and liver enzymes. Methods: A total of 12 immature female Balb/C mice at the age of three weeks were divided into a control group that received a complete protein diet and an experimental group that received a protein-deficient diet. Three months later, the serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes were evaluated, and the thickness of the layers of the stomach wall, as well as pit depth, and the number of parietal cells were measured in stomach tissue. Results: Comparing the thickness of stomach layers showed that the thickness of the mucosa, muscle layer, depth of pits, and the number of parietal cells of the stomach wall increased significantly in the experimental group (P<0.05). Also, the serum levels of phosphorus, glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea, creatinine, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) in the experimental group showed a significant decrease. Still, the serum level of alkaline phosphatase in the experimental group increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that changes in diet in the long term can alter the histology and histomorphometry of the stomach wall as well as blood parameters, which may be unfavorable for people’s health in some parameters.