Differential effect of high fat diet (HFD) on the cardiac muscle of adult and aged female mice and the possible protective role of artichoke treatment: Histomorphometric and ultrastructural study

Background: Coexistence of hyperlipidemia and aging is a highly serious condition that massively deteriorates cardiacfunction. Artichoke is a well-known antioxidant commonly used in long-lived countries diet. Recent researches showed itshypolipidemic and antiaging effects.Objective: This work aimed to investigate the histopathological effects of high fat diet (HFD) on adult mice cardiac muscle, toaddress and compare the extent of myocardial damage in aged mice and to assess beneficial effects of artichoke in mitigatingthese effects.Materials and Methods: A total of 42 adult (Group I) and aged (Group II) female mice (3 and 26 months old respectively)were divided into six equal subgroups (7 per each); Groups Ia and IIa: adult and aged control, Groups Ib and IIb: adult andaged HFD groups were fed diet enriched with 1.5% cholesterol and 10% lard oil for 6 weeks. Groups Ic and IIc: adult andaged artichoke treated group, were received HFD for 6 weeks as HFD groups concomitant with artichoke extract at a dose of1.5 gm/kg once daily via gastric tube.Results: Adult HFD laden cardiac myocytes showed loss of cross striations, inflammatory cell infiltrate, increase collagencontent, myofiber focal degeneration,disruption of myofibrils, sarcomeres and T tubule system, lipid vacuolation, mitochondrialdamage and nuclear pyknosis. These effects were the worst in aged HFD fed animals. Artichoke markedly improved thesechanges in both adult and aged mice.Conclusion: combination of HFD and aging caused more extensive insults on cardiac myocytes than each factor alone.Artichoke is highly efficient in ameliorating these insults.