Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Heating of oil repeatedly changes the physical and chemical appearances of the oil and this has been linked to the aetiopathogenesis of rising pandemic of non-communicable/chronic diseases. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of heated palm kernel and soya oil on the liver, kidney and heart of albino rat. Methods: Sixty(Male and Female) albino rats weighing between (75-160g) were purchased and housed in cages at room temperature at university of Nigeria Enugu campus animal house where the experiment was carried out. After two weeks of acclimatization, they were randomly distributed into five groups each containing 12 rats and were fed with growers’ mash– and water was given to them ad-libitum. The principles of laboratory animal care were followed. One liter of each sample was heated in an electric oven at temperature of 1800C for 15 minutes. The rats were grouped into five different groups of twelve (12) each: Group 1: Control Group, received feed +water only, group 2 received feed + water + unheated PKO, group 3 received feed + water + heated PKO, group 4 received feed + water + unheated SO, group 5 received feed + water + heated SO. To each group, 10mls of respective oil samples were added to 100g of feed +water (ad libitum). Baseline weights were measured before exposing them to the oil meals. After six weeks’ exposure, they were fasted overnight and reweighed and further exposure for another six weeks was observed. They were reweighed and from each group the least, mid and highest weighted rats were sacrificed and the liver, kidneys and heart were harvested and fixed in 10 percent formalin for histopathological analysis. Result: Histopathology study of the liver, showed that all the test samples caused hepatic inflammation. UHPKO, HPKO, and HSO caused distortion in hepatic architecture and UHPKO, UHSO, and HSO caused cytoplamic ground glass appearance. However, the HPKO caused intrahepatic heamorrhage while UHSO caused formation of giant cells. All the test samples caused renal tissue loss, and intrarenal haemorrhage. UHPKO, HPKO and UHSO caused renal fatty changes and distortion in renal architectures. HSO caused renal tissue necrosis and tubular clumping. On the heart, all the test samples caused loss of myocardial tissues. The UHPKO and HPKO caused intramyocardial hemorrhage, and the HSO caused inflammation (myocarditis), disorganization of cardiac architecture and reduction in muscle bulk. Conclusion: Histological evidence of inflammation by all the test samples on liver, kidney and heart of albino rat is an indication that these products may be toxic to the body organs studied. Therefore, consumption of these products especially when heated, may not be completely safe.