Histological changes of liver glycogen storage in mice (Mus musculus) caused by high-protein diets

Abstract

High Protein diets (HP) have been popular for people who want to lose weight since the 1960s. Even though these diets do not harm healthy people in the short term, there is insufficient data to support their safe use and efficiency over a long period. Because of the fact that the proteins in these diets are mainly from animal sources, it induces a higher intake of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. It is proven that high protein diets cause both physical and pathological abnormalities in the body. However, there exist very few studies about the effects of high protein nutrition on liver glycogen storage. For this study 40 Swiss albino mice consisting of two groups were used. The first group was fed with 25% High Protein; the other was fed with standard meal. The two groups were fed with respect to their diets for 30 days. At the end of 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th days 5 from each group were killed with cervical dislocation. The livers were removed after perfusion then fixated. The routine paraffin pursuit was applied before cutting into 5 µm sections and staining with H-E, PAS and silver. There were major differences in weight loss between the first and the fifteenth days. Glycogen storage was significantly reduced in HP (15) stained with PAS. Hydropic degeneration and regenerative activity was observed in H-E and silver stained HP group. As a result for the high protein diet group, weight loss at the 15th day and a significant decrement in glycogen storage at the 30th day was observed.