Effect of Consumption of Caffeinated Energy Drinks on the Myocardium of the Adult Male Albino Rat (A Histological and Morphometric Study)

Abstract

Abstract Background Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages containing mainly caffeine. Chronic consumption of energy drinks may be associated with increased blood pressure, and cardiac work load, as well as, increased heart rate. Energy drinks consumption has been related to myocardial infarction in healthy young adult. Aim of the Work The aim of the present work was to study the harmful effect of energy drinks histologically and morphometrically, on the myocardium of the adult male albino rats. Material and Methods 20 Adult male albino rats aging 4-6 moths were divided randomly into two groups; Group I (Control group) which consisted of 10 male albino rats with free access to food (rat chew) and water and Group II (Experimental group): 10 male albino rats which received 3.75 ml/kg body weight red bull through oral gavage daily for 4 weeks with free access to food (rat chew) and water. At the end of experiment, rats werescarificed, and cardiac muscle was extracted and processed into paraffin blocks for light microscopic examination. Morphometric study and statistical analysis were done. Results The present work demonstrated that Red Bull induced several histopathological changes of the cardiac muscle. The results showed the cardiac muscle of rats with irregularities in the arrangement of fibers and wide spaces in between. Some cardiomyocytes showed areas of pale stained sarcoplasm, partial loss of the cross striations and ill-defined intercalated discs. Localized areas of hyaline degeneration and areas of tissue disruption were also noticed with less frequently localized coalesced cytoplasmic vacuoles. The nuclei of the cardiomyocytes appeared small, darkly stained, and pyknotic. Others were flattened and deeply stained. Congested, and thick walled blood vessels were also observed, with mononuclear cellular infiltrations. In Masson’s Trichrome sections, relative increase in collagen deposition between the cardiac muscle fibers was observed which was associated with focal fibrous degeneration. Examination of the semithin sections showed partial disruption of the cardiomyocytes. The nuclei of the cardiomyocytes were small, darkly stained with perinuclear degeneration. Some nuclei were eccentric, or with an irregular outline, and peripheral chromatin condensation. The characteristic finding was the presence of longitudinal wavy cardiac muscle fibers with relatively wide spaces in between and localized areas of partially lost cross striations and intercalated discs. Dilated, thick walled blood vessels was noticed between the bundles of cardiac muscle. Mononuclear inflammatory cellular infiltrations were also detected. Conclusion The present study demonstrated the degenerative and cardiotoxic effects of Red Bull as an example of energy drinks on the histological structure of the cardiac muscle.