Physiology

The stimulatory effect of Carica papaya seed extract on hematopoiesis was studied. A total of thirty two (32) adult Wistar rats were randomized into four (4) groups (n=8). Group A served as control and administered with rat chow and water only. Group B,C and D were administered with 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg respectively of aqueous extract of Carica papaya seed extract for 28 days. After an overnight fast, the rats were sacrificed and blood collected for haematological analysis. The result showed a dose dependent statistically significant (p<0.05) increased in all haematological parameters (RBC, WBC, Platelets, PCV and lymphocyte count) and a dose dependent decrease in the total body weight of the rats which was not statistically significant. It is therefore concluded that Carica papaya seed extract may have a stimulatory effect on haematopoeisis which may have resulted from the available bioactive and Vitamins components of its phytochemistry. Keywords: Carica papaya, haematological parameters, seed extract

The present study investigated the deleterious effects of alcohol exposure on reproductive hormones during pregnancy. Forty Wistar albino rats (30 female & 10 male) were mated and randomized into 6 groups (n=5) and then administered with 25% alcohol daily through orogastric cannula from gestation day 0 to day 7 (Group 1), day 8 to day 14 (group 2) and day 15 to 21 (group 3). Group 4, 5 and 6 were control for 1, 2 and 3 respectively. At the end of each trimester, five rats were sacrificed from each experimental and corresponding control group and blood samples collected for FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone assay. The male rats were used for mating purposes only. One way analysis of Variance was used to compare means, p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. The result showed that alcohol decreased the FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone levels during the course of the pregnancy with significance (p<0.05) especially in the third trimester. It was expected that there will be a rise in level of FSH and LH in response to decreasing oestrogen and progesterone level but that was not the case here This study therefore demonstrates that alcohol exposure adversely affects pregnancy through decrease in hormones that help in maintaining pregnancy especially in the third trimester possibly due to a derangement in the Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis.

The global prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly and high dietary fat intake is a major risk factor for the development of obesity. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Carica papaya seed aqueous extract on serum lipid profile in Wistar rat fed with high fat diet (HFD) and to compare it with a standard hypolipidaemic drug simvastatin. Thirty healthy albino Wistar rats were randomized into 5 groups of 6 animals each. . The groups were treated as follows: Group A: normal diet (ND); Group B: HFD (vanaspati ghee + coconut oil mixture in ratio of 3:2 at 10 ml/kg/day); Group C: HFD+ C. papaya (200 mg/kg/day);
Group D: HFD + C. papaya (300 mg/kg/day); Group E: HFD + simvastatin (1.8 mg/kg/day). Lipid profile was estimated after 5 weeks of treatment. Result show that aqueous extract of Carica papaya showed a significant
(p<0.05) reduction in total cholesterol (g/dl), Triglyceride (g/dl), Low density lipoprotein (g/dl) levels and significant (p<0.05) increase in high density lipoproteins (g/dl) in hypercholesteromic rats. Therefore, aqueous extract of Carica papaya have lipid lowering potential and could be explored further for possible use in management of hypercholesterolaemia.

Introduction: Recently there has been an increased association between environmental factors and male infertility. Aims: In the present study, the effect of changes in testicular biometric parameters (weight and volume) and testicular function (Sperm count, morphology, testosterone level) in Cadmium chloride administered Wistar rats was studied.
Methodology: Twenty male albino Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n=5). Group A (control) received rat chow and water, while Group B, C and D received 15mg/L, 20mg/L and 25mg/L of Cadmium chloride respectively for 6 weeks. Result: There was a significant (P=.05) and dose dependent decrease in testicular function parameters in the rats and a significant (P=.05) and positive correlation between the biometric parameters and testicular function. Conclusion: The findings showed that Cadmium chloride has a deleterious effect on testicular function and biometric parameters of the testes may be important in the assessment of testicular function.

The present study investigated the deleterious effects of alcohol exposure on reproductive hormones during pregnancy. Forty Wistar albino rats (30 female & 10 male) were mated and randomized into 6 groups (n=5) and then administered with 25% alcohol daily through orogastric cannula from gestation day 0 to day 7 (Group 1), day 8 to day 14 (group 2) and day 15 to 21 (group 3). Group 4, 5 and 6 were control for 1, 2 and 3 respectively. At the end of each trimester, five rats were sacrificed from each experimental and corresponding control group and blood samples collected for FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone assay. The male rats were used for mating purposes only. One way analysis of Variance was used to compare means, p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. The result showed that alcohol decreased the FSH, LH, estrogen and progesterone levels during the course of the pregnancy with significance (p<0.05) especially in the third trimester. It was expected that there will be a rise in level of FSH and LH in response to decreasing oestrogen and progesterone level but that was not the case here This study therefore demonstrates that alcohol exposure adversely affects pregnancy through decrease in hormones that help in maintaining pregnancy especially in the third trimester possibly due to a derangement in the Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) axis.

Biochemical and histological analysis were conducted to determine the effects of Nicotiana tobacum on the liver enzymes of albino Wistar rats. Twenty rats, divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) of equal rats were fed with rat chow and water. Groups B, C and D were treated with 4mg/kg, 6mg/kg and 8mg/kg of Nicotiana tobacum respectively. After twenty eight (28) days of oral administration of Nicotiana tobacum, the animals were sacrificed, blood collected for liver enzyme (AST, ALP and ALT) assay and liver was harvested for histological analysis. One way analysis of variance was used to compare means and a level of p<0.05 was considered significant. Results showed a significant progressive increase in body weight (p<0.05) of control, 4mg/kg and 6mg/kg treated groups when initial and final body weights were compared. There was also a dose dependent increase in ALT, ALP and AST levels of the rats treated with Nicotiana tobacum, with significance (p<0.05) only in when 8mg/kg Nicotiana tobacum treated rats were compared with control. Increase in the dosage of Nicotiana tobacum show increase inflammation of the liver cells and blood vessels. These findings therefore, suggest a compromise in liver of rats administered with Nicotiana tobacum.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of fasting and diabetes mellitus on salivary alpha amylase level. Eighty fe-male subjects comprising of healthy volunteers and patients suffering from diabetes at Eku Baptist hospital were randomly selected for this study. They were divided into eight groups of ten subjects each. Group A was made up of Normal subjects, Group B: 12 hours fasting Subjects, Group C: 18 hours fasting Subjects, Group D:24 hours fasting Subjects, Group E: Four hours after eating + twenty four hours fasting normal subjects, Group F: Diabetic subjects, Group G: Fasting diabetic subjects. After the experiment, saliva was collected and saliva alpha amylase assay was carried out. Statistical significance between normal subjects (control) and experimental groups was done using Students t-test and One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and a level of p<0.05 was considered significant. Saliva alpha amylase significantly (p<0.05) in-creased in the subjects in a fasting duration dependent manner. The saliva alpha amylase level reduced after fasting. Also in this study, diabe-tes mellitus significantly (p<0.05) increased the saliva alpha amylase level. Therefore, this study shows that saliva alpha amylase increases during period of fasting and in diabetes mellitus

Malaria in pregnancy is an obstetric, social and medical problem requiring multidisciplinary and multidimensional solution. In Africa, perinatal mortality due to malaria is at about 1500/day. In areas where malaria is endemic, 20-40% of all babies born may have complications of malaria.In this Prospective study, two hundred (200) consenting pregnant women who were attending antenatal clinic in a University Teaching hospital who met the inclusion criteria were recruited for the study. Malaria parasitaemia were examined using Giemsa staining of the thick and thin blood films and WBC by coulter automated cell count and QBC centrifugal haematology system. Other parameters (fetal birth weight, gestational age, parity, maternal age) were also documented. The result showed a strongly positive correlation(r =0.7258) and statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in birth weight for mild (3.29±0.07kg), moderate (2.86±1.33kg) and severe (2.17±0.213kg)parasitamia in primigravida and mild (3.43±0.05kg), moderate (3.12±0.05kg) and severe (2.92±0.21kg) in multigravida.Also found is that the average birth weight in primigravida (2.85±0.158kg) is lower than that of multigravida (3.07±0.039kg). It is therefore, recommended that malaria screening should form part of routine antenatal investigations in malaria endemic regions to prevent the problems associated with low birth weight.

The status of hemostatic parameters, are useful physiological markers of organ and tissue damage and dysfunction. This study investigated the effect of Piroxicam on some hemostatic parameters of albino Wistar rats. Twentyfour (24) female albino Wistar rats were used for this study, they were randomly divided into four (4) groups of six (6) rats each. Group A served as control, Group B and C were rats treated with 0.1 mg/kg and 0.2 mg/kg piroxicam while Group D served as 0.2 mg/kg piroxicam treated rats administered with Vitamin E. The experiment lasted for a period of 4 weeks, after which the rats were euthanized. Blood sample was collected for measurement of bleeding time, clotting time, fibrinogen level and platelets count. One-way ANOVA was used to compare, means and a p<0.05 was considered significant. Result: Data generated showed that Piroxicam significantly (p<0.05) decreased the clotting time, platelets count and fibrinogen level. Piroxicam also significantly (p<0.05) increased the bleeding time level of the rats. Co-administration of Vitamin E significantly (p<0.05) increased the bleeding time, it also significantly decreased the clotting time, fibrinogen level and
platelets counts. Conclusion: This study therefore shows that Piroxicam impairs hemostasis while Vitamin E administration further enhances the activities of Piroxicam on hemostatic parameters

The study investigated the changes in blood clotting time due to the effect of chronic consumption of alcohol. Thirty six (36) adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of A, B, C, D, E and F
(n=6). Animals in experimental groups B, C and D were given 15%, 20% and 25% alcohol respectively by oral intubation for forty two (42) days, groups E and F received 25% alcohol each and after initial treatment alcohol was withdrawn for an additional twenty one (21) and forty two (42) days respectively, while group A (control) received equivalent volume of distilled water. In all groups, the blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture under chloroform anaesthesia to determine clotting time. The study revealed significant (p<0.05) increase in clotting time in the animals treated with alcohol while the clotting time decreased after subsequent alcohol withdrawal. Chronic of alcohol consumption therefore increases clotting time and its withdrawal returns the clotting time to normal level.

Clinical trials have shown that an even newer compound, Dexamethasone (Dex.), might be more potent and less likely to cause side-effects than any other known corticosteroid medication. This
study investigated the possible changes in selected hemostatic parameters [clotting time, bleeding time, platelets count and fibrinogen level] in albino wistar rats, following administration of graded
doses of Dex. Forty-two (42) male albino Wistar rats were randomly grouped into seven (7) of six (6) rats each. With Group A receiving normal diets (Control), Groups B – G were respectively given 0.1
mg/Kg of Dex, 0.3 mg/Kg of Dex, 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex + 33 mg/Kg of Ketokonazol (Keto), 0.3 mg/Kg of Dex + 33 mg/Kg of Keto, 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex + Vitamin (Vit.) E and 0.1 mg/Kg of Dex. + Vit E. following two-weeks administration period, rats were euthanized and blood samples obtained by cardiac puncture under diethyl ether to determine hemostatic parameters. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that Dex, in higher doses decreased bleeding and clotting time, with
significant increase (p < .05) in platelet and fibrinogen counts. However, Vitamin E and Ketoconazole treatment reversed this effect by increasing bleeding and clotting time with decreased fibrinogen levels and platelet count. Thus, study demonstrates that Dexamethasone affect
hemostasis by significantly decreasing bleeding and clotting times, and also enhances hemostatic function with significant increase in fibrinogen and platelet count which may predispose to thrombotic disorders