Alterations of intestinal mucosa structure and barrier function following traumatic brain injury in rats

Table 1 Main histopathological changes of jejunal mucosa after traumatic brain injury

Type of mucosal damages	Group of TBI
Shedding of epithelial cells from the top of villi	3 and 12 hours
Epithelial cell necrosis and disarrangement of villi	24 and 72 hours
Focal mucosa ulcer with exposure of submucosal interstitium	72 hours
Fusion of adjacent villi into piece	72 hours and 7 days
Dilation of central chyle duct	72 hours and 7 days
Inflammatory cell infiltration in intestinal wall	72 hours and 7 days
Mucosal atrophy	7 days
Vascular dilation, congestion and edema in villous interstitium and lamina propria	3 hours throughout 7 days

Table 2 Changes in villous height, diameter, crypt depth and surface area of mucosa

Groups	Villous height (µm)	Villous diameter (µm)	Crypt depth (µm)	Surface area (mm2)
Control	229.2 ± 18.1	37.4 ± 5.5	79.3 ± 9.6	0.0259 ± 0.0048
TBI 3 hours	219.5 ± 21.2	37.6 ± 6.1	78.9 ± 9.4	0.0258 ± 0.0035
TBI 12 hours	214.5 ± 22.5	35.6 ± 3.1	74.0 ± 6.9	0.0241 ± 0.0037
TBI 24 hours	189.2 ± 13.6b	32.7 ± 3.2	67.0 ± 7.6bc	0.0195 ± 0.0012bc
TBI 72 hours	150.8 ± 10.4bc	32.1 ± 4.2	34.8 ± 5.6bc	0.0151 ± 0.0010bc
TBI 7 days	136.7 ± 15.7bc	30.8 ± 5.8	38.3 ± 6.1bc	0.0130 ± 0.0015bc

Note: Values were expressed as mean ± SD.

^bP < 0.01 vs control,

^cP < 0.01 vs group of 3 hour TBI.