Effect of Microwave Exposed Feed in Different Containers on Histological Structure of Liver and Kidney of Adult Mice

Microwave technology has been widely used in different fields of life including cooking. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of feed directly exposed to microwaves or in different containers on the histology of the liver and kidney of mice. Forty adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups each of 10: Control group was given normal untreated feed, Direct group was fed on food pellets exposed to microwaves in oven tray directly, Glass group was given feed processed in the microwave oven within a glass container and Plastic group was given feed exposed to microwaves in a plastic container. The microwaves exposed feed of all treated groups was heated at 250 degrees C, 2450 MHz frequency for 15 min and was provided for 4 weeks. Intake of microwave exposed feed caused a highly significant increase (P<0.001) in mean body and liver weight of mice of all treated groups as compared to control. Histopathological alterations were observed in sections of liver and kidney of mice that were given microwave processed feed. Statistical analysis revealed that the average cross-sectional area (ACSA) of Bowman's capsule was significantly (P<0.05) increased in mice raised on feed that is directly exposed to microwaves radiations while other groups showed no significant change in Bowman's capsule as compared to control. ACSA of glomeruli and renal tubules significantly increased in direct (P<0.001) and in the plastic (P<0.01) group as compared to the control group. A significant decrease in the mean number of mononuclear hepatocytes was observed in all treated groups as compared to control. While, ACSA of mononuclear hepatocytes increased significantly (P<0.001) in the direct and glass container group as compared to control. Relative nucleo-cytoplasmic index of hepatocytes and mean number of oval and kupffer cells per unit area was significantly decreased in all treated groups as compared to control. Our findings indicated that the severity of degenerative changes was highest in the glass container group.