The research study determined the effect of bovine whey supplementation in rats fed on high-fat diet on occurrence of myocardium damage and disfunction in its offspring. Eighty virgin female rats (Rattus norvegicus) (100-110 g body weight) were used for this study. Following mating, the pregnant rats were categorized into four groups: control, whey supplemented (W), high-fat diet (FD) and high-fat diet and whey supplemented group (FD+W). Whey supplementation alone or in combination with a high-fat diet was administered every other day during the gestation and lactation period. Offspring rats at the age of 1, 7, 14 and 21-day post-partum were sacrificed and their hearts were processed for histological, p53 immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and biochemical markers for cell damage. Offspring from the FD+W group exhibited improvement of the myocardium histological picture. Moreover, there was a lower accumulation of lipid deposits and regular organization of cardiomyocyte bands and intercalated discs. A lower p53 immune reaction and lower single strand DNA damage was noticed. The levels of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and catalase) in the myocardium were increased, whereas the contents of IL6, MDA and caspase-3 were decreased, resulting in a reduction in inflammation and cell death. In conclusion, supplementation of whey to mother rats fed with high-fat diet alleviated the markers of cardiomyocyte injury in its offspring due to its antioxidant effect.
