Chronic obesity is a known risk factor for metabolic syndrome. However, little is known about pathological changes in the small\nintestine associated with chronic obesity. This study investigated cellular and subcellular level changes in the small intestine of obese\nmice. In this study, amouse model of obesity was established by early postnatal administration of monosodiumglutamate. Changes\nin body weight were monitored, and pathological changes in the small intestine were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl\nstaining and light and electron microscopy. Consequently, obese mice were significantly heavier compared with controls from 9\nweeks of age. Villi in the small intestine of obese mice were elongated and thinned.There was reduced hematoxylin staining in the\nepithelium of the small intestine of obese mice. Electron microscopy revealed a significant decrease in and shortening of rough\nendoplasmic reticulum in epithelial cells of the small intestine of obese mice compared with normal mice.The decrease in rough\nendoplasmic reticulum in the small intestine epithelial cells of obese mice indicates that obesity starting in childhood influences\nvarious functions of the small intestine, such as protein synthesis, and could impair both the defense mechanism against invasion\nof pathogenic microbes and nutritional absorption
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