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).