Pathological Effects of Dietary Rapeseed Oil in Ducklings

Abstract

The pathological effects of dietary rapeseed oil (10–60 cal%) in Pekin ducklings have been investigated. The oil produced growth retardation, mortality, increase in hematocrit and reticulocyte count, severe hydropericardium, hypertrophy of the heart, cirrhotic changes of the liver, lipidosis of the spleen and fatty accumulation associated with cell infiltration in the heart and skeletal muscles. 30 cal% rapeseed oil appeared to be the minimum level causing these changes. It is demonstrated that the pathogenicity of rapeseed oil is due to its erucic acid content.

Myocardial Changes in Monkeys Fed Mustard Oil

“…That this is not the manifestation of a high fat intake per se was shown by the absence of such changes in the hearts of animals consuming similar amounts of either peanut oil or hydrogenated peanut fat. These changes are similar in some respects to the changes already reported in the hearts of different species of laboratory animals maintained on diets containing rapeseed oil [1][2][3]26]. The harmful effects were attributed to the high amounts of erucic acid found in dietary rapeseed oil.…”

“…Thus, retardation in the growth of young rats [8-10, 12, 13, 15, 19, 27], mice [14,29] hamsters [29], guinea pigs [14,18], pigs [18,26], ducklings [2,4,29] and turkeys [22] have been recorded. Hypertrophy of adrenal cortex with an increase in cholesterol content of the cortical cells have been reported in Sprague-Dawley rats fed on diets rich in rapeseed oil [12,14,17].…”

“…Young rats fed rapeseed oil were observed to have smaller testes and to exhibit degeneration of seminiferous tubules in males and resorption of fetuses and sterility in females [17]. Recent studies with rapeseed oil have demonstrated histopathological changes in the hearts and skeletal muscles of rats [1], ducklings [2,3], guinea pigs [30] and pigs [26]. Rapeseed oil contains high amounts of erucic acid.…”

The Effects of Various Fat Supplements on the Nutritional and Pathogenic Characteristics of Diets Containing Erucic acid in Ducklings

“…The animals were contracted from a local supplier and were housed as described before [2], The diet consisted of 23 cal% casein and 77 cal% of a combination of corn starch and fat and was given ad libitum. When the cal% fat in the diet varied, this was achieved at the expense of the cal% carbohydrates; the protein content of the diet was kept equal for all groups.…”

“…The pathological effects of dietary rapeseed oil (RSO) in rats and duck lings have previously been detailed [1,2], Erucic acid, a major component of RSO, was shown to be responsible for the pathogenicity of the oil. Earlier, erucic acid was also demonstrated as the cause of growth retardation of rats fed RSO [5].…”