Effects of Vitamin-C (Ascorbic Acid) On Histomorphometric Changes in Liver Induced by Aspartame in Albino Wistar Rats

Abstract

Objective: To observe histological changes in Liver induced by Aspartame and effects of Vitamin C on Aspartame induced histological alterations in Liver. Study design: Quasi experimental study. Settings: Department of Anatomy and Postgraduate Laboratory of Isra University Hyderabad Sindh- Pakistan. Duration: 6 months from May 2017 to September 2017. Methodology: Animal protocols were followed at Animal House Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agricultural University Tandojam. Forty healthy adult Albino Rats with body weight ranging from 150 to 250 grams were selected and were categorized in four groups as: Group A (Control) 10 Rats received normal chow diet ad libitum. Group B (Experimental 1) 10 rats received Aspartame (200mg/kg/day) with normal diet. Group C (Experimental 2) 10 rats received Aspartame (200mg/kg/day) and Vitamin C supplementation (100mg/kg-bw) with normal diet. Group D (Experimental 3) 10 rats received Aspartame for 3 weeks than Vitamin C supplementation for 3 weeks with normal diet. After completion of experiment of 6 weeks, via cervical dislocation, all rats were sacrificed and livers of rats were removed following rinse with normal saline, and were fixed in 10% formaline, the tissues were processed to prepare paraffin blocks. 4-6 micrometer sections were obtained for slides and stained with eosin and haematoxylin to observe under light microscope. Results: Gross, histological changes in Liver were observed induced by Aspartame, and also effects of Vitamin C on Aspartame induced variations in Liver were evaluated. On histological examination Aspartame is significantly associated with lymphocytic infiltrative changes, fibrotic changes, necrotic changes, congested sinusoids and fatty changes, p-values were quite significant. Additionally, consumption of vitamin C significantly prevented these changes, p-value 0.001. Conclusion: Present study concluded that Aspartame causes the histological alterations in Liver and Vitamin C supplementation with Aspartame can prevent the hepatic alteration due to Aspartame.