The Therapeutic Effect of Olive Oil and Sheep Tallow on Liver Alterations Linked to Induced Atherosclerosis in Male Albino Rats
Background: Atherosclerosis is a chronic, multifactorial disease characterized by the accumulation of lipid-rich plaques within the arterial endothelium, frequently resulting in multi organ morbidity. Given the central role of the liver as the primary metabolic hub for lipid homeostasis, this study investigated the therapeutic potential of olive oil (OO) and sheep tallow (ST) in mitigating atherosclerosis-associated hepatic structural and functional alterations.
Methodology: Atherosclerosis was experimentally induced in rats using an atherogenic diet (AGD). The subjects were randomized into six equal groups (n = 7 rats/group): normal baseline control, atherogenic positive control, untreated atherogenic negative control, and three experimental groups treated with simvastatin, ST, or OO. This study evaluated the serum lipid profiles, hepatic protein concentrations, and liver enzyme activities, along with comprehensive histopathological examinations of the hepatic tissues.
Results: AGD administration induced marked dyslipidemia and hepatic dysfunction. However, therapeutic interventions with OO and ST substantially ameliorated the disrupted serum lipid profiles. Furthermore, serum total protein and globulin levels exhibited highly significant improvements (p < 0.0001) following OO and ST administration. The elevated hepatic enzyme activities characteristic of atherogenic injury were significantly attenuated by both dietary fats, most notably by alanine aminotransferase (ALT; p < 0.0001). Histomorphological evaluations confirmed that OO and ST treatments promoted significant hepatocellular repair, considerably reducing necrosis, vacuolation, degeneration, and inflammatory infiltration, which were mainly observed in the untreated atherogenic group.
Conclusion: OO and ST administration in experimental rats exerted therapeutic and hepatoprotective effects, effectively restoring lipid homeostasis and ameliorating functional and structural hepatic alterations induced by atherosclerosis.
المقاييس
هذا العمل مرخص بموجب Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
