Psychopharmacological effect of cyanide ingestion on pregnant rats and their litters

Cyanide is responsible for the degenerative effect of certain brain areas responsible for some behavioural outcomes in animals and humans alike. Though cyanide exists generally in the environment, it is also commonly contained in some natural food sources notably, vegetables, fruits, and root crops, like cassava, a staple food in Nigeria and other tropical countries. This study, therefore, investigated the effects of chronic ingestion of cyanide on pregnant rats and their offspring. A total of 60 Wister Albino rats were used in the study. They comprised of 20 female pregnant rats that ingested cyanide and 40 of their offspring that were prenatally exposed to cyanide. The 20 pregnant female rats were randomly assigned into four treatment groups of five rats each. Group 1 was given low dosage cyanide (0.1mg/kg body weight), group 2 was given high dosage cyanide (0.4mg/kg body weight), group 3 received saline, and group 4 received no treatment, while 10 of their offspring were selected from each treatment group from a total population of 103 offspring littered by the pregnant rats. Treatment covered the first 16 days of the gestation period. Dependent variables observed were the psychopharmacological outcomes of cyanide ingestion such as body weight maintenance of the mother rats, infant mortality, Litter size, average birth weight, still birth, malformation, and exploratory learning behaviour of the offspring. The analysis was done using independent group randomized design and tested four hypotheses using one-way analysis of variance and the independent t-test. Results showed that Mother rats that received a high dosage of cyanide gained less weight when compared with Mother rats in other treatment groups (F(316) = 21.18, P<.01). Infant mortality was found to be higher among the offspring of rats that received a high dose of cyanide (F(2.4) = 26.88, P<.05), when compared to offspring of rats that were treated with a low dosage of cyanide. Infant mortality was not observed in either the saline or the "no treatment" groups. Exploratory learning behaviour of offspring of rats prenatally exposed to cyanide was significantly affected (F(3.36) = 14.35, P.001). Offspring of rats prenatally exposed to the high dose of cyanide were slower in learning tasks, ( ̅ = 212.43) than those given low dose of cyanide ( ̅ = 147.54). However, there was no significant effect on the growth of offspring of rats prenatally given cyanide (t = 0.58, df=15, P>.05). It is therefore concluded that chronic ingestion of cyanide by pregnant mother rats has a negative effect on both the mother rats and its Litters, more so during the neonatal period. A recommendation is hereby made to the government for enactment and enforcement of enabling laws and policies aimed at eliminating or reducing the concentration of cyanide in foods as beneficial effects may be observable in human populations

Gender differences in spatial learning, aggressive and sexual behaviour of prenatally exposed rat weanlings to Moringa oleifera

Moringa oleifer (M.oleifera) has been used widely as a herbal remedy in most parts of the world and has been variously referred to as the “miracle tree” due to its therapeutic ability for various diseases. However, studies on the behavioural effects of M. oleifera have been scanty. This study, therefore, investigated the gender differences in spatial learning, aggressive and sexual behaviour of prenatally exposed rat weanlings to M. oleifera. An Independent group randomised design was adopted for this study. A total of 30 Wister Albino rat weanlings randomly selected from 80 offspring prenatally exposed to M. oleifera were used. They were littered by 30 female Wister Albino rats randomly assigned into 3 treatment groups of 10 rats each. Dependent variables observed were spatial cognitive learning behaviours using the radial maze, sexual and aggressive behaviours of the rat weanlings adopting observational methods. The treatment groups comprised 20mg/kg M. oleifera, 60mg/kg M. oleifera and the Control group (Saline treatment). Data were analysed using a One-Way Analysis of Variance at a 0.05 level of significance. There was no significant interaction effect of gender and exposure to different doses of Moringa oleifera, Wilks’ Lambda = .18, F (2, 64) = .72, p >. 05, however there were main effects for Moringa oleifera treatment, Wilks’ Lambda = .12, F (2, 69) = 56.58, p < .04, and gender, Wilks’ Lambda = 32, F (2, 64) = 5.47, p < .01. There was a significant effect of Moringa oleifera on sexual behaviour (F (2, 64) = 10.09, p <.01). Rat weanling exposed to 60mg doses of Moringa oleifera exhibited more sexual activities than those exposed to 20mg/kg dose. There was a significant difference in response to aggressive behaviour (F (2, 64) = 4.20, p <.05). Rat weanling exposed to 60mg/kg dose of Moringa oleifera displayed less aggressive behaviour than those exposed to 20mg/kg dose. However, the main effect of Moringa oleifera on the learning task (F (2, 64) = 1.88, p>.05) was not significant. A significant main effect of gender was found only in the sexual behaviour (F (2, 64) = 4.199, p = .045). Male rat weanlings exposed to different doses of Moringa oleifera exhibited more sexual activities than female rat weanlings. M. oleifera enhanced more sexual functions in males, reduced aggressive behaviour in both males and females while spatial learning behaviour was normal for both male and female rats

Pharmacies in informal settlements:a retrospective, cross-sectional household and health facility survey in four countries

Background: Slums or informal settlements characterize most large cities in LMIC. Previous evidence suggests pharmacies may be the most frequently used source of primary care in LMICs but that pharmacy services are of variable quality. However, evidence on pharmacy use and availability is very limited for slum populations. Methods: We conducted household, individual, and healthcare provider surveys and qualitative observations on pharmacies and pharmacy use in seven slum sites in four countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). All pharmacies and up to 1200 households in each site were sampled. Adults and children were surveyed about their use of healthcare services and pharmacies were observed and their services, equipment, and stock documented. Results: We completed 7692 household and 7451 individual adults, 2633 individual child surveys, and 157 surveys of pharmacies located within the seven sites. Visit rates to pharmacies and drug sellers varied from 0.1 (Nigeria) to 3.0 (Bangladesh) visits per person-year, almost all of which were for new conditions. We found highly variable conditions in what constituted a “pharmacy” across the sites and most pharmacies did not employ a qualified pharmacist. Analgesics and antibiotics were widely available but other categories of medications, particularly those for chronic illness were often not available anywhere. The majority of pharmacies lacked basic equipment such as a thermometer and weighing scales. Conclusions: Pharmacies are locally and widely available to residents of slums. However, the conditions of the facilities and availability of medicines were poor and prices relatively high. Pharmacies may represent a large untapped resource to improving access to primary care for the urban poor