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;4.3×10 5 ,2.0×10 6 and 1.4×10 7 n/Cm 2 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 (10 6) and the highest (10 7) fluencies of fast neutrons on albumin and total protein concentrations (as indices of liver synthetic capacity). However the lowest (10 5) fluency exerted no detectable effect. The application of feeding with grains of the 2 nd. 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.