Changes in Testes Lipid Profile in Rats Fed on Thermally-Oxidized Soya bean Oil-Based Diets

Abstract

The effect of thermally–oxidized soyabean oil–based diets on the lipid profile of the testes of rats was studied. For 35 days, two groups of male weanling rats were fed a basal diet containing unoxidised and oxidized soyabean oil. Rats fed the thermally oxidized soyabean oil diets displayed typical signs of essential fatty acids (EFA) deficiency and had their testes weights reduced to about 81% of fats fed unoxidised soyabean oil diets. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in phosphatidylcholine and diphosphatidylglycerol content and increase in cholesterol (p<0.005) content of the testes of rats fed oxidized soyabean oil-based diet compared to those fed unoxidised oil diets.

Keywords: Testes, Thermo-oxidized Oil diet, Phospholipids, Growth, Lipid Profile, Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Science Vol. 6 (1) 2007: pp. 10-14