The Comparative Effects Of Chronic Consumption Of Kola Nut (Cola nitida) And Caffeine Diets On Locomotor Behaviour And Body Weights In Mice

Summary: The comparative effects of chronic (28 days) consumption of kola nut and its active constituent, caffeine diets on locomotor behaviour and body weights in mice were investigated. 30 adult Swiss white mice (15-30g body weight), were used for the study. The open field-maze was employed for the evaluation of locomotor behaviour. Mice in the control group (n = 10) were fed normal rodent chow, mice in the kola nut-fed group (n = 10) were fed kola diet (25% wt/wt of rodent chow) while those in the caffeine-fed group (n = 10) were fed caffeine diet (0.66% wt/wt of rodent chow) for 4 weeks. All animals were allowed free access to clean drinking water. Daily food intake, water intake and body weight change were also measured. Daily food intake in the kola nut and caffeine-fedgroup of mice was significantly (

Effect Of CARICAPRYL-99 Seed Alkaloid Extract On The Serum Levels Of Sex Hormones And Pituitary Gonadotrophins In Male Albino Rats

Summary: Activity of alkaloid extract of caricapryl–99 seeds (Carica papaya Linn seeds) on the serum levels of steroid hormones was studied in adult male albino rats. Three tolerated doses obtained from the graph of percectage toxicity (10, 50 and 150 mg/kg) were separately administered orally, daily for three days to three groups of male rats (n=5) while group four of 5 rats received the vehicle (corn oil) as control. The results showed that 10mg/kg/d caused increase serum levels of FSH and estrogen but decrease in the serum levels of LH and testosterone compared to control; 50mg/kg/d elevated the serum levels of FSH, estrogen but inhibited testosterone; while 150mg/kg/d pretreatments caused a significant decrease (

The Effects of Palm wine on the Morphometry and Femur Histology of Wistar Rat Foetuses

Background: Palm-wine as an alcoholic beverage plays an important role in the social life of many people in Nigeria especially those in the southern part of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible teratogenic effects of palm wine on wistar rat foetuses. Methodology: Female rats were caged with mature male rats overnight and upon confirmation of coitus the following morning, the female rats were divided into three groups of five rats each. Fermented palm wine, with an estimated alcohol content of 4.6%, was administered via oro-gastric tube to these pregnant rats at different stages of gestation. Group II received 6 ml/day from day 6-12; group III received 6 ml/day from day 13-19; and group I (control) received water. On day 20, all female rats were sacrificed and fetuses removed, counted, weighed and examined. Their femora bones were processed for H & E sections. Results: Gross examination of fetuses collected on the 20th day of gestation showed significant reduction of mean tail length, crown-rump length and body weight in the palm wine-treated groups relative to control. Histological examination of the femora from the treated groups showed significant shrinkage and distortion of cells and disintegration of the growth plate. These features were more in the sections of animals that received palm wine during the early stages of pregnancy. Conclusion: Palm wine from this study was concluded to be teratogenic.Key Words Palm_wine, Teratogenic, Morphometry, Femur, Histology, Wistar rats