Comparison of enteral or parenteral administration of medium chain triglycerides on intestinal mucosa in adult rats

The effects of a diet containing medium chain (MCT) or long chain triglycerides (LCT) administered either enterally or parenterally on intestinal morphology and function were compared. Adult rats received either intragastrically or intravenously for 7 days an isoenergetic mixture containing either 50%MCT/50%LCT or 100%LCT. Rats fed by enteral route the diet containing MCT exhibited in the proximal intestine a significant elevation in the mucosal weights. MCT given enterally initiated in the jejunum an increase in crypt depth, epithelial cell renewal and cell migration rates from the crypt base to the villus tip. Parenteral feeding caused shortening of the villi in both the jejunum and ileum and lower sucrase activity in the jejunum and aminopeptidase activity in the ileum. No specific effects of the lipid composition were observed by parenteral route. In conclusion MCT did not prevent the villus hypotrophy or the decrease in hydrolase activities observed in rats fed parenterally but the enteral infusion of MCT enhanced mucosal mass and favoured epithelial cell renewal in the proximal intestine.