Effect of prolonged consumption of cola drinks on parathyroid gland in rats: light and electron microscopic study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of consumption of cola drinks on blood calcium and phosphorus levels as well as parathyroid glands [PTG] in rats. Rats were divided into three groups Group I was a control group, Groups II and III received commercial coca cola by gastric intubation at a dose of 60 ml/day divided into three times for one and two months, respectively. Parathyroid glands were examined by light and electron microscopes. The study revealed decreased serum calcium and increased serum phosphorus levels which led to compensatory hyperplasia of chief cells of PTG of rats that consumed cola for one month. These hyperplastic cells showed evidences of hyperactivity as dilated prominent r ER cisternae, cell membrane folding and increasing secretory and prosecretory granules. On the other hand, after a consumption of cola for two months, serum calcium level was higher than the other group but still lower than the normal value and this was reflected on the PTG of rats of this group which exhibited exhaustive degenerative and apoptotic changes of the hyperplastic hyperfunctioning dark chief cells