Myocardial Reaction to Energy Drinks in a Guine a Pig: Structural Changes

Abstract

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate myocardial changes in a short-haired guinea pig (Cavia porcellus L) after everyday use of energy drinks for 60 days. The experiments were carried out on 11 male guinea pigs, age of 2 months, with a mean weight of 220±0.2 g. The guinea pigs were randomly grouped into a control group of 5 guinea pigs and experimental group of 6. Experimental group guinea pigs were orally administered energy drinks 4 ml per day as a single oral dose. After the 60 days experiment, the quantitatively evaluated structures of myocardial interstitial collagen in the left ventricle using automated image analysis system, which was connected to Olympus BXx51 microscope. Assessment was performed with Image-Pro Plus 5.1 analysis system. We calculated volume and perimeter of the interstitial fibrillar collagen in the left ventricular myocardium, the number of separate fibers in the field of view were counted. In total, there was evaluated 100 fields of view in the control group and 120 fields of view in the experimental group. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package SPSS Statistics 20 and Microsoft Excel. We used bifactorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare histomorphometric parameters between the two groups. We assessed that the difference between parameters was up to 1% and the individual specific effect was counting for 50% (p < 0.05). Variation of the features was much larger within the experimental group, when compared to the control group. Maximum average values of the fibrillar collagen volume, perimeter and the number of separate fibers in the field of view were 1.2 times larger in the experimental group than in the control group. Repeated energy drink consumption acts as external factor stimulating adaptive remodeling processes. Quantative structural changes of fibrillar collagen in left ventricle of experimental group animals are reaction to a stress factor. Unbalanced changes of fibrillar collagen may determine inadequate remodeling and become a reason for pathogenesis.