Haematological Changes Following Administration of Alcohol and Caffeine in Albino Wistar Rats

The haematological changes following the administration of varying concentrations of alcohol and caffeine for 7days were investigated in six groups of albino Wistar rats. Each group consisted of 8 rats (4 males; 4 females). The parameters assayed include percentage packed cell volume (%PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration of rats. Rats that were administrated 1ml and 2ml of 43% alcohol recorded lower % PCV than controls. However, this lower value was only significant (

Haematological and immunological effect of coadministration of extracts of Vernonia amygdalina and Azadirachta indica on normal and diabetic rats

This study evaluated the effect of co-administration of extracts of Vernonia amygdalina Del. (VA) and Azadirachta indica Linn.(AI) on haemapoietic and immunological indices of normal and diabetic rats. White blood cells which were non-significantly decreased (p>0.05) in diabetic control rats relative to the normal control, respectively increased and decreased non-significantly (p>0.05) upon administration of the combined extracts of VA and AI to diabetic and non-diabetic test rats. Packed cell volume, haemoglobin content and red cell count as well as its derived factors (mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin and mean cell haemoglobin concentration) of both diabetic and non-diabetic rats were not affected by the treatment, relative to their respective controls. As compared to insulin treatment, the combined extracts significantly increased (p<0.05) mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of diabetic rats. Platelets number which was non-significantly lower (p>0.05) in diabetic control rats as compared to non-diabetic control was further decreased non-significantly (p>0.05) upon administration of the combined extracts and insulin. Diabetes induction significantly increased CD4+ count (p<0.05) as compared to the normal control. This was however decreased significantly (p<0.05) upon treatment with the combined extracts and insulin. The combined extract similarly decreased CD4+ counts in normal test rats as compared to the normal control. Combined extracts of VA and AI is non-haematotoxic and may possess some anti-inflammatory properties when used as a management against diabetes mellitus.Key words: Diabetes, haematological and immunological indices, Vernonia amygdalina, Azadirachta indica

Haematoxic Effects Following Ingestion Of Nigerian Crude Oil And Crude Oil Polluted Shellfish By Rats

The haematological effects following ingestion of shellfish exposed to crude oil polluted water or the pollutant perse were investigated in albino Wistar rats. Feeding of four groups of rats for 28 days duration with two reference casein or shellfish protein control diets (Group A and B), and two test diets (Group C and D) supplemented at varying levels with shellfish which had been previously exposed to crude oil polluted water and the oral gavaging with crude oil at the rate of 3, 6 and 9 ml/kg body weight per day to three groups (groups II, III and IV respectively) of rats for 7 days duration resulted in changes in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) of rats. Group C and D respectively fed 10% and 20% polluted shellfish diets recorded significant (P < 0.05) decreases in PCV and RBC counts while Hb concentration and WBC counts increased. Groups II, III and IV gavaged with varying doses of crude oil recorded significant (P < 0.05 – 0.01) dose dependent decrease in PCV and RBC counts when compared to controls (group 1). Hb and WBC counts also increased for these groups but the increase was only significant for WBC counts (P < 0.05) when compared with controls. The results suggest that the ingestion of shellfish exposed to crude oil polluted water or the polluted perse results in haematotoxicity. Key words: Haematological Indices, Crude Oil, Shellfish Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences Vol.19(1&2) 2004: 1-

Phytochemical Composition And Effect Of Aqueous Extract Of Struchium sparganophora (L) On Cockroach Crude Extract – Induced Airway Inflammatory Responses In Wistar Rats

Asthma, a chronic immune inflammatory disorder of the airways has been responsible for high mortality in both infants and adults in Africa and appropriate therapy has long been sought. Phytochemical composition and effect of aqueous extract of Struchium sparganophora on pulmonary inflammation induced in Wistar rat asthma model were studied. Pulmonary inflammation was induced in Wistar rats against appropriate controls with cockroach (Periplaneta americana) crude extract. Twenty-four hours after asthma induction treatment, S. spargonophora extract was administered by oral gavage to induced rats. The inflammatory responses and effect of the extract were assessed by analysis of leukocytes infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at 12 hourly intervals. The aqueous extract of S. sparganophora contained alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, polyphenols, saponins, tannins etc. The aqueous extract significantly (

Blood glucose level and lipid profile in rats fed on Treculia Africana (Breadfruit) diet: A sub-chronic study

In this study, effect of breadfruit diet on plasma lipids and blood glucose levels in diabetic and normoglycaemic rats were investigated. Forty albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups of ten rats each; the first group (control) fed on normal rat chow. Group 2 received 100% breadfruit diet; group 3 received alloxan treatment (50mg/kg body weight once daily for three days) + normal rat chow and the last group had alloxan treatment along with 100% breadfruit diet. The regimens lasted for a period of 5 weeks. Results on lipid profile (mmol/L) revealed that in normoglycaemic controls, the mean total cholesterol (TC) level was 1.60 ± 0.10; mean triglyceride (TG) was 0.92 ± 0.06; and the mean values of low density lipid (LDL), very low density lipid (VLDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were 0.42 ± .04, 0.58 ± 0.05 and 0.76 ± 0.06 respectively. The blood glucose level (8.40 ± 0.57) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats was significantly higher (

Storage beyond Three Hours at Ambient Temperature Alters the Biochemical and Nutritional Qualities of Breast Milk

The effect of storage on stability of human breast milk was investigated in 30 lactating mothers. Samples stored for 3, 6 and 24 hours at ambient temperature of 302K (29°) were analysed for protein, lactose, pH, and microbial content. There were significant (p < 0.01) decreases in protein, lactose and pH upon storage for 6 and 24 hours, compared with storage for 3 hours as control. The mean ± SEM values for protein for 6 and 24 hours were 15.56 ± 0.48 and 13.27 ± 0.50, compared to 17.26 ± 0.41 for 3 hours. For lactose, corresponding values for 6 and 24 hours were 0.08 ± 0.005 and 0.07 ± 0.006, compared with 3 hours (0.09 ± 0.005). The pH values were 6.1 ± 0.09, 5.9 ± 0.07 and 5.6 ± 0.07 in 3, 6 and 24 hour samples respectively. The skin floras investigated were Streptococcus viridians, Straphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus albus. The microbial content increased with increase in storage time from 3 to 24 hours. The predominant bacterial species was S. albus, followed by S. viridians and S. aureus. A positive correlation (r = 0.453, p < 0.01) between lactose level and pH were obtained. These results suggest that breast milk is stable for 3 hours, beyond which significant changes occur in its biochemical composition and nutritional quality. The implications of these findings are discussed with respect to their consequences on the child's survival. (Afr J Reprod Health 2001; 5[2]: 130-134) RÉSUMÉ La Conservation au-delà de trois heures à une température ambiante modifie les qualités biochimiques et nutritionnelles du lait maternel. L'effet de la conservation sur la stabilité du lait maternel humain a été étudié chez 30 mères allaitantes. Les échantillions qui ont été conservés pendant 3, 6 et 24 heures à une température ambiante de 302K (29 degrés) ont été analysés pour déterminer la présence de la protéine, du lactose pH et du contenu microbien. Il y a eu des baisses importantes (P < 0.01) par rapport à la protéine, au lactose et pH quand ils sont conservés pour 6 et 24 heures en comparaison à la conservation de 3 heures comme cas témoin. Les valeurs moyennes ± SEM pour la protéine pour 6 et 24 heures étaient de 15, 56 ± 0,48 et 13, 27 ± 0, 50 comparée à 17, 26 ± 0, 41 pour 3 heures. En ce qui concerne le lactose, les valeurs correspondantes pour 6 et 24 heures étaient de 0,08 ± 0,005 et 0,07 ± 0,006,comparée à 3 heures (0,09 ± 0,005). Les valeurs pH étaient de 6,1 ± 0,09, 5,9 ± 0,07 dans les échantillons de 3,6 et 24 heures respectivement. Les flores entanées qui ont été étudiées étaient Streptocoques viridians, Staphylocoques aureus et Staphylocoques blanc. Le contenu microbien a augmenté au fur et à mesure que la durée de la conservation a augmenté de 3 à 24 heures. L'espèce de la bactérien prédominante était Staph. albus, suivie de Strep. viridians et Staph. aureus. Une corrélation positive (r = 0,453, p < 0,01) entre le niveau de lactose et pH a été obtenue. Ces résultats suggèrent que le lait du sein reste stable pendant 3 heures et qu'au-delà de cela il se produit des modifications importantes dans la composition biochimiques et dans la qualité nutritionnelle. Nous avons discuté les implications des ces résultats par rapport à leurs conséquences sur la survie de l'enfant. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2001; 5[2]: 130-134) KEY WORDS: Breast milk, storage time, microbial content, biochemical composition, nutritional qualit

Effect of Coconut (cocus Nucifera) and Palm Kernel (eleasis Guinensis) Oil Supplmented Diets on Serum Lipid Profile of Albino Wistar Rats

Objective: This study investigated the effect of coconut and palm kernel oil supplemented diets on the lipid profile of Wistar albino rats. Materials and Methods: Three different groups of seven rats each were respectively fed three different diets for a period of 90 days. Group A animals were fed with rat pellet supplemented with 10% coconut oil, while Group B animals were fed rat pellet supplemented with 10% palm kernel oil. Group C animals which served as the control were fed normal rat pellet. At the end of the feeding period, animals were anaesthetized under chloroform vapor, dissected and blood obtained via cardiac puncture into tubes. Serum was separated and used for assay of lipid profile using standard kit methods. The results obtained were analyzed statistically using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: Serum total cholesterol level of palm kernel oil fed group (115.75±13.71mg/dl) and the coconut oil fed group (94.35±4.32mg/dl) were significantly higher (

Effect Of Inhalation Exposure To Kerosene And Petrol-Fumes On Some Anaemia-Diagnostic Indices In Rats

Changes in total body weight, some anaemia-diagnostic indices (haematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and total serum protein) were determined in rats (Wistar albino strain) after 2 weeks of 4 hours daily inhalation exposure to ungraded concentrations of kerosene and petrol fumes. The results obtained for those rats exposed to petrol and kerosene fumes showed a significant decrease (

Vernonia amygdalina Del: A potential prophylactic anti-diabetic agent in lipid complication

No Abstract.Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Vol. 13 (1) 2007: pp. 103-10

Theobromine rich cocoa powder induces weight loss and changes in lipid profile of obese wistar rats

No Abstract.Discovery and Innovation Vol. 18 (3) 2006: pp. 191-19