Ultrastructural Changes in Zona Fasiculata Cells of Suprarenal Cortex in Adult Male Albino Rats after Short Exposure to High Ambient Temperature and the Effect of Fish Oil Administration

Introduction: Temperature is one of the stressful factors affecting body systems including zona fasiculata of suprarenal cortex. Aim of the Work: Investigation of ultrastructural changes in zona fasiculata cells of suprarenal cortex in adult male albino rats after short exposure to high ambient temperature and effect offish oil administration. Materials and Methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into: Group I control rats, group II rats exposed to high ambient temperature (38°C) 1 hour/day for 1 one week and group III included rats exposed to high ambient temperature similar to group II and receiving 0.4mg/kg /day fish oil orally, in addition. Animals were sacrificed after one week and suprarenal cortex was prepared for ultra-structural study of zona fasiculata. Results: Compared to group I, rats exposed to high ambient temperature in group II showed significant increase in serum corticosterone and revealed few lipid droplets without discernible outline, dilated smooth endoplasmic reticulum, disrupted cristae of mitochondria and condensed nuclear chromatin in many cells. In group III, rats exposed to high ambient temperature and receiving fish oil showed insignificant increase in serum corticosterone. Many lipid droplets were found and were surrounded with discernible outline. Most of mitochondria were similar to control animals. However, disrupted cristae in few mitochondria were still found. Conclusion: Exposure to high ambient temperature resulted in evident ultrastructural degenerative changes in zona fasiculata cells of adult male albino rats. The administration offish oil ameliorated such degenerative changes, suggesting a possible favorable effect offish oil on zona fasiculata cells on exposure to high ambient temperature.