Morphometric parameters and adipose tissue mass of rats fed with cactaceae flour

Ferreira, Izabel CristinaBarakat, BeatrizAlmeida, Martha Elisa Ferreira deFerreira, Keidy LaraRamos, José Antônio de Souza Cruz

The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphometric parameters and the mass of adipose tissues of rats fed with cactacea flour. The animals were divided into five groups:C (Control), H (Hypercaloric diet), HP (Hypercaloric diet with 5% Pereskia grandifolia flour), HO (Hypercaloric diet with 5% Opuntia ficus-indicaflour), and HA (Hypercaloric diet with 5% Agave tequilanaflour). Feed intake and apparent digestibility, capillary glycemia, liver weight and Hepato-Somatic Index were evaluated. Adipose tissue mass and the Visceral Fat Index (VFI) and Epididymal Fat Index (EFI) were determined. The data were compared using theTukey test at 5% significance level. There was no statistical difference between the groups for body weight, BMI and Lee Index. The HP and HA groups did not differ from the C group regarding weight gain,the C group had lower apparent digestibility of thediets,the HA group presentedlower blood glucose when compared to the H and HO groups,and the H group had higher liver weight. The HP and HA groups gainedthe lowest adipose tissue mass, VFI and EFI than the H and HO groups. Among the cactaceae studied,Pereskia grandifoliashowed better effects on morphometric and adipose tissue parameters.(AU)

1. Opuntia ficus-indica
2. Pereskia grandifolia
3. cafeteria diet
4. adipose tissue
5. Agave tequilana