Extract of Sesamum Indicum Seeds on the Glycogen Profile of the Liver of Adult Wistar Rat

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of seeds extract of Sesamum indicum on the histology liver of adult Wistar rats. Thirty Wistar rats weighing between 150-180g were divided into three groups of ten each; control group A received distilled water, experimental B and C received 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the seed extracts respectively. The extracts were administered for two weeks, at the end of which the animals were sacrificed; livers were removed and processed for Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) paraffin sectioning and staining method while the serum was used for liver enzyme assay. From the results obtained, the administration of ethanolic seed extract of Sesamum indicum caused no obvious structural derangement in the organ There were no adverse effects on glycogen distribution. Keywords: Liver, Wistar rats, Sesamum indicum, glycoge

Histomorphology and Biochemical Effects of Sida acuta leaf Extract on the Kidney of Wistar Rats

This study assessed the effect of ethanolic extract of Sida acuta leaf on the micro-anatomy of the kidney of Wistar rats. Thirty adult Wistar rats were separated into 3 groups A, B and C (n=10 per group). The Wistar rats were subjected to different doses of ethanolic extract of Sida acuta in order to evaluate the possible micro-anatomy/morphological changes in the kidney following the administration of the extract. The rats in group A were regarded as control and they received only distilled water throughout the period. The rats in group B and C were the treated groups and received ethanolic extract of Sida acuta leaves daily at doses 100 and 200mg/kgbw orally for 14 days respectively. The animals were sacrificed on the 15th day by cervical dislocation and the kidney excised. Fixed in 10% formal saline and processed for light microscopy using H&E staining methods. Finding from rats’ weight that there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight of the treated rats compared with the control group. The histological study revealed compressed renal corpuscle, increased bowman’s space and constricted collecting tubule which may adversely affect renal functions. Key words: Sida acuta, Kidney, histomorphology, biochemica

The Anxiolytic Effects of Smokeless Tobacco in Mice

This study assessed the effect of smokeless tobacco leaf on anxiety in mice. Twenty male albino mice, aged 60-120 days were separated into 2 groups of ten each. Animals in the test group were fed on 0.1g of tobacco mixed with 10g of chow everyday for 14 days. While animals in the control group were given only 10g of chow for the same duration. The mice were then allowed 5 minutes each to explore the excavated plus maze and the light/dark transition box and behaviours were scored. Results in the elevated plus maze revealed that the duration in the open arms was significantly different (p<0.05) between the two groups with the test group (49.6± 11.9 sec/5 mins) being lower than the control group (89.1± 22.1 sec/5min). The frequency of stretch attend postures was significantly lowered (p<0.05) in the test group (8.8±0.6) compared to the control (11.5±1.8). There was no significant difference in the other parameters in the elevated plus maze. The frequency of line crosses in the light box was significantly higher (p<0.01) for the test group (74.3±9.8) than the control (47.4±63). The frequency of stretch attends posture and rearing in the dark box was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the test group then the control group (180.5±18.9). These results suggest that tobacco may have decreased anxiety in the test group. Keyword: Anxiety, postures, elevated plus maze

Gonadal histo-morphologies and serum hormonal milieu in female rats treated with azadirachta indica leaf extract

Background: azadirachta indica is a tree with most of the parts having various medicinal values. It is however popular because of its high potencies, as antimalarial and anti-fertility agents, which the locals still exploit. Objective: We investigated the effect of the methanol leaf extract on the serum levels of the pituitary-gonad hormones and the histo-morphology of the ovary and uterus of adult female rats. Materials and Methods: Eighteen adult female Wistar rats were divided into three groups (A, B and C) of six animals each. Group A was the control group that received distilled water orally, while groups B and C were the experimental groups that received 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the extract respectively by oral intubation for fourteen days. The animals were sacrificed on the fifteenth day, and blood was collected from the left ventricles of the hearts and subsequently spurned in heparinized bottles for serum hormonal assay. The ovaries and the uteri were then dissected out and preserved in Bouin’s fluid. Routine haematoxylin and eosin method was used to stain them. Results: There were significant (p<0.0001) lower serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the treatment groups, especially in the 400mg/kg group, while there were significant (p<0.0001) higher progesterone (PH) levels in the treatment groups. The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were however not different (p=0.0502) from the control. The histo-morphologic studies revealed no obvious pathological changes in the ovaries and uteri of the treatment groups. Conclusion: 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of methanol extract of the leaf of A. indica does not have any obvious effect on the histo-morphologies of the ovary and uterus, but showed significant changes in the serum levels of LH and PH of female Wistar rat, implying that the effect of the extract may have been at a level other than these organs of study