3.2.4 Levels of hepatic steatosis in the offspring
To evaluate hepatic steatosis, histology of the liver of the offspring (female and male) was performed and the quantification was through the percentage of the steatosis area as observed in the graph and in the morphology of the liver cells, evidenced by the black arrows (figure 10).
In female offspring, was observed an increase in the area of steatosis in the FRU group in relation to the water group (p<0.05). The treated groups, FRU+VPE, FRU+VPE/Water+VPE and FRU+VPE/Water reduced the area of steatosis in relation to the FRU group (p<0.05). In addition, it was observed that the FRU+VPE/Water+VPE group decreased in relation to the FRU+VPE group, already and the FRU+VPE/Water group increased in relation to the FRU+VPE/Water+VPE (p<0.05).
In male offspring, there was a decrease in the area of steatosis in the FRU group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The treated groups, FRU+VPE, FRU+VPE/Water+VPE and FRU+VPE/Water reduced the area of steatosis in relation to the FRU group (p<0.05). In the FRU+VPE/Water group there was also a reduction in the area of steatosis in relation to the FRU+VPE and FRU+VPE/Water+VPE group (p<0.05).
Thus, our results demonstrate that the VPE made by the mothers exposed to fructose before and during pregnancy was able to decrease the area of hepatic steatosis in the offspring (females and males).