Effect of different diets on left ventricle and area postrema in adult male albino rats predisposed to prolonged intake of high salt

Abstract

Background Excess dietary salt is the most common environmental factor that contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension. High-sugar and high-fat intakes in hypertension accelerate left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure and increase the incidence of strokes and infarctions. Aim This work aimed to assess the correlation of long-term high-salt intake with hypertension in adult male albino rats and to evaluate the effect of different dietary regimens on left ventricle and area postrema of those rats. Materials and methods A total of 24 adult male albino rats were used in this study. Rats were divided into group I (control), which included six rats that received standard diet, and group II (experimental), which included 18 rats that received high-salt diet for 8 weeks, which was then classified as subgroup IIA (reversal), IIB (high sugar), and IIC (high fat). Systolic blood pressure was measured at baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 12 weeks from the start of the experiment. Specimens from left ventricle of the heart and area postrema were subjected to histological and immunohistochemical examinations. Data of the body weight, heart weight, and thickness of the left ventricle were analyzed statistically. Results The current study revealed increased weight gain, heart weight, left ventricular thickness, and systolic blood pressure in different experimental groups. These groups showed disturbed histological architecture of left ventricle of the heart and area postrema, but in subgroup IIA, partial improvement of the histological findings was found. Conclusion There is a correlation between high-salt diet and hypertension. Salt, sugar, and fat in high doses have hazardous effects on the histological architecture of the left ventricle and area postrema of adult male albino rats. Restriction of salt in diet leads to some improvement of the adverse effects.