Histological changes in adipose tissue of rats fed a vitamin E deficient diet high in cod liver oil

Fish Oil-induced Yellow Fat Disease in Rats I. Histological Changes

“…Experimentally induced yellow fat disease has been described in the rat [22], but there are differences in the development of the disease between rat and sensitive species. These differences could be important for the pathogenesis of yellow fat disease, as they may indicate factors that determine species and tissuedependent sensitivity.…”

“…This may not be so for the rat [22]. Morphogenetic studies in mink [7], horse [29] and pig [8] proved that the early changes of yellow fat disease were characterised by interstitial lipofuscin-laden macrophages without adipose-cell degeneration.…”

“…In the pig [6] and horse [29] extensive fibrosis of adipose tissue has been seen during the development of yellow fat disease, but in rat this fibrosis of degenerated adipose tissue might be absent [22].…”

Enzyme Histochemical Studies of Adipose Tissue in Porcine Yellow Fat Disease

“…During these processes a progressive peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids may occur. Lipofuscin pigment, which is responsible for the typical yellow discoloration of the adipose tissue, is the final product of this peroxidation process [25,39]. Steatitis Several nutritional factors must be considered in the pathogenesis of this disorder.…”

“…Signs of vitamin E deficiency are also seen without changes in the adipose tissue [18,28]. The independent occurrence of yellow fat disease possibly indicates a specific cause; however, no conclusions can be drawn from previous studies because several nutritional factors, such as fish oil, a vitamin E deficiency and a variable percentage of oxidation products of polyunsaturated fatty acids (which are considered to induce yellow fat) were introduced simultaneously [14,25,29].…”