Stomach Histopathologic and Ulcerogenic Potentials of Tea Beverage

Abstract

Sixty four (64) albino rats were studied for possible histopathologic and ulcerogenic potentials of Lipton tea for the period of twenty eight days (28). The ulceration of the lumen of the stomach counted as ulcer points increased considerably within the 28 days duration, particularly 7-21 days.

There were marked histologic changes as evidenced in the degeneration of gastric glands and cells due to loss of mucus such which were not found in the controls. Also the gastric pits were grossly dilated in 75% of the animals fed with Lipton tea while 15% had mild or no dilations of the gastric pits. Some of the dilated pits were filled with mucus absent in controls without Lipton tea.

The oxyntic or parietal cells showed pale cytoplasm in contrast to eosinophilic staining affinity in controls. Particularly prominent was the decreases in the number of parietal cells, however such cells still maintained  normal large rounded morphology with round nuclei having nucleoli as in controls.

Few mucus cells were observed in the clustered of mucus gland or mucuous neck cells as against many of such cells in controls. However the morphology and basal location of the cells nuclei and basophilic staining affinity were as in controls.

It is concluded that Lipton tea has the tendency of inducing gastric ulcer, achlorhydria and pernicious anaemia.

Keywords:  Lipton tea, Gastric, histopathology, ulcerogenic potentials,