Effect of aluminum on the structure of the wall of the heart of adult male albino rat and the possible protective role of garlic: light and electron microscopic study

Aluminum [AL] is a non essential metal to which humans are frequently exposed. This study was carried out to detect the effect of [AL] on the structure of the wall of the heart and to evaluate the possible protective role of garlic. Twenty adult male albino rats were used in this study. They were divided into four groups of five animals each. Group I was the control group. Group II consisted of rats which received oral supplementation of garlic Group III included rats which received aluminum hydroxide orally. Group IV comprised animals which received both aluminum hydroxide and garlic At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed. Specimens from the left ventricle were processed and prepared for both light and electron microscopic study. The results of this study revealed histological changes in the wall of the heart in group III which received aluminum hydroxide. Degenerative changes were noticed in the cardiac muscle fibers. Congestion of coronary vessels, hemorrhage and mononuclear cellular infiltration were also detected. By electron microscopic examination, there were disorganization and lysis of the myofilaments. Nuclei of the affected fibers appeared shrunken with irregular nuclear membranes. Degenerated mitochondria were also noticed. On the other hand, the sections of the heart of animals of group IV which were given both aluminum hydroxide and garlic, showed the same histological profile as in control sections