Background: Many persistent diseases, involving type II diabetes, coronary heart disease, and osteoarthritis, are positively correlated with obesity. Obesity increases fat cell formation, insulin resistance, inflammation, and the production of reactive oxygen species that damage DNA, lipid, protein, cell growth, and signal transduction. Therefore, destruction in the salivary gland structure results in impairing the function of the salivary gland.
Objectives: The purpose of the study is to explore the effect of a high-fat diet on the parotid salivary gland structure by histological and ultrastructural analysis.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino rats were haphazardly split into two equivalent groups., 12 rats each. Group I: (control group) animals were fed a normal rat chow. Group II: (high-fat diet group) animals were fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. The rats' weights were measured weekly and general health was observed daily, while serological analysis was performed at the end of the experimental period. The rats were euthanized, and the parotid salivary glands were dissected out and prepared for light and electron microscopic examination.
Results: Group II displayed loss in the typical configuration of the salivary gland, and clinical observations showed an increase in body weight, food intake, water intake, hair loss, insulin, cholesterol, glucose, and calcium blood serum levels in comparison with the control group.
Conclusion: A high-fat diet initiates obesity, insulin resistance, a decrease in general health and a toxic effect on the organization of the parotid salivary glands.