Effect of fast neutrons-irradiated diets on liver structure and function of male albino rats

Abstract

Presently, there is a growing need for the technology of food irradiation since it provides an effective process in food preservation and quality improvement . Accordingly, this study was designed to investigate the effects of fast neutron- irradiated wheat grains on the structure and function of the liver of albino rats. . Rats were categorized into two main groups (G1 & G2 ) ,40 animals for each. Each group was subdivided equally to four subgroups ( A,B,C&D for G1 and AA,BB,CC&DD for G2). A and AA served as control animals for G1 and G2 respectively and given non-irradiated diets ,while B,C&D were given irradiated diets at three different fluencies of fast neutrons;4.3×105 ,2.0×106 and 1.4×107 n/Cm2 respectively .But ,BB,CC and DD were given a diet of irradiated wheat of the second generation ( harvested from cultivation of the irradiated grains of the first generation ) at the same previous fluencies. Serum albumin and total protein, biochemical markers of liver function ( ALP, ALT and AST ) and the histopathological alterations of liver would be tested. Rresults of the present work highlight the detectable effect of irradiated wheat grains by the moderate ( 106 ) and the highest ( 107 ) fluencies of fast neutrons on albumin and total protein concentrations ( as indices of liver synthetic capacity). However the lowest (105) fluency exerted no detectable effect. The application of feeding with grains of the 2nd. generation on G2 experimental subgroups ( BB, CC & DD ) recorded a slight increase did not approaching a significant value ( p > 0.05 ) concerning albumin and total protein levels, in all treated animals Concerning the enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ) and transaminases ( ALT & AST ) , they recorded minor fluctuations between the positive and negative range in the exposed animals of both groups ( G1 & G2) as compared to controls . But , these little differences did not approaching a significant record except for ALP inBB subgroup of G2 . On histopathological examination of liver tissue , sporadic spontaneous lesions , known to occur in rats , were the only findings , with no specific relation to the studied stress factor .Therefore , it can be concluded that fast neutron-irradiated diets does not cause changes of any toxicological significance in experimental animals , at the conditions of the current experiment , in spite of minor changes in biochemical parameters . But , it is necessary to demonstrate the safety of radiationprocessed food in case of human consumption.