The effect of bee pollen consumption on functional morphology of small intestine of rats

In our experiment, the effects of bee pollen addition in diet on the functional morphology of small intestine in rats were investigated. The microscopic changes in the small intestine after administration of the pollen addition were evaluated. The experimental animals were divided into one control and three experimental groups of ten rats in each group. Feed given to animals in group A contained addition of pollen in concentration of 0.2%, in group B the addition of pollen was 0.5% and in group C 0.75%. Animals of the control group were fed without the pollen addition. Using the quantitative morphometrical methods, we have found statistically significant increase in the relative composition of epithelial tissue (P < 0.0001) and decrease in the connective tissue volume (P < 0.0001) of the small intestine in experimental groups B and C as compared to the control. The results of our work show that the addition of pollen in diet had concentration-dependent effects on the mucosa of small intestine and thus it could be used as a proof of another beneficial use of pollen as a feed supplement. Key-Words: pollen, rat, small intestine