Effect of Obesity on The Lung of Adult Male Albino Rat with Evaluation of The Possible Protective Role of Pomegranate : Light and Electron Microscope Study

Laag, Essam Mahmoud; Tawfik, Sadika M.; El-Shafey, Basem I.

Effect of Obesity on The Lung of Adult Male Albino Rat with Evaluation of The Possible Protective Role of Pomegranate : Light and Electron Microscope Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Histology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt

² Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt

³ Department of Chest, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Pomegranate is rich in bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols and anthocyanins, with known health benefits, due to its high antioxidant capacity. Aim of the work: Is to study the protective effects of pomegranate on the histologiacl changes induced by obesity on the lung of the adult male albino rat. Materials and methods: The present study was carried on 40 adult male albino rats divided into 4 equal groups: control group kept on standard diet for 3 months, group II (kept on standard diet and pomegranate juice in a dose 20ml/Kg orally for 3 months), group III (received high fat diet for 3months), and group IV (received both high fat diet and pomegranate juice at the same previous doses and period). At the appropriate time, the specimens were taken and prepared for light and electron microscopic study. Results: Light microscope examination revealed structural alterations in group III in the form of inflammatory cellular infiltration with desquamated epithelial cells inside the lumens of bronchioles and alveoli. Collapsed alveoli with fragmented elastic fibers in their wall and intra-alveolar cellular infilteration were detected. Congested blood vessels with increased lipid droplets inside pneumocyte type II were also noticed. Increased peri-bronchiolar, peri-vascular and inter-alveolar collagen deposition with interrupted elastic lamina in bronchioles and around alveoli were also detected. Ultrastructural examination of spicemens taken from group III showed increased lipid droplets compressing the nuclei with disorganized multilamellar bodies in type II pneumocytes. Neutrophils and eosinophils were seen inside the alveoli. Amelioration of the previous histological changes was detected in group IV after weight reduction.
Conclusion: it was concluded that pomegranate has anti-obesity effects which ameliorated the previous histological changes induced in the lung by receiving high fat diet.

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