Statistical analysis of the size of heart mitochondria in rats fed sunflower oil, primor oil or rapeseed oil.

ABSTRACT

The size distribution of heart mitochondria was studied in Wistar rats fed for 24 weeks a diet containing sunflower oil, primor oil or rapessed oil. The animals fed rapeseed oil showed larger heart mitochondria than the two other groups. This result could be attributed both to the presence of giant mitochondria and to an increase in size of the whole mitochondrial population. No difference was observed between the sunflower oil group and the primor oil group.