Structural alterations in the rat oesophagus epithelium after ingestion of the Transkei diet.

s. J. VAN RENSBURG, I. F. H. PURCHASE, E. F. ROSE, w. A. ROACH SUMMARY Maize, beans and wild vegetables, grown in the Transkei and prepared in the traditional manner, were fed to rats from weaning until death, when the oesophagus was examined histologically. The diet appeared to induce degenerative changes in the oesophagus epithelium, which were followed by alterations of a preneoplastic nature. Recent evidence for the involvement of the staple diet in the aetiology of oesophagus carcinoma is discussed.