A comparative study of the effect of diet and soda carbonated drinks on the histology of the cerebellum of adult female albino Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Carbonated drinks are widely consumed because of their taste and their ability to refresh and quench thirst. These carbonated drinks also exist in the form of diet drinks, for example Diet Coke®, Pepsi®, extra. OBJECTIVES: A comparative effect of the diet and regular soda carbonated drinks on the histology of the cerebellum of female albino Wistar rats was investigated. METHODS: Fifteen adult female Wistar rats weighing between 180-200 g were divided into 3 groups; designated as groups A, B and C, and each group consisted of five rats. Group A was the Control group and received distilled water, while groups B and C were the experimental groups. Group B was administered 50 ml of regular soda (RS), and group C was administered 50 ml of diet soda (DS) each per day for 21 days, and the rats were sacrificed on Day 22, and their cerebellums excised and preserved. RESULTS: Histological result of the sections of the cerebellum showed shrunken and degenerated Purkinje cells with hypertrophied dendrites, especially in the DS group, which was less in the RS group compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that diet soda has adverse effect on the cerebellum of adult female albino Wistar rats.

Effect of methanolic extract of Neem leaf (Azadirachta indica) on ovarian histology and hormonal milleu.

BACKGROUND: Extract of neem leaves is commonly consumed as an antimalarial therapy. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the effect of methanolic extract of neem leaves on the histology of the ovary and also on serum levels of FSH and LH in female Wistar rats. METHODS: A total of eighteen (18) rats weighing 110g-150g were used. They were randomly divided into three groups (A, B, and C) of six rats each. Group A: served as control and received distilled water equivalent in volume to the test extract. Group B: was treated with 200mg/kg of the methanolic extract of neem leaves. Group C: received 400mg/kg of the methanolic extract of neem leaves. Administration was by gavage and lasted for a period of 14 days. RESULTS: Histological sections of the experimental groups revealed no histopathological features. No statistically significant difference was observed in the serum levels of FSH in the treated groups. However, serum levels of LH were significantly reduced when compared with the control. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that extract of neem leaves may affect fertility adversely by reducing serum levels of LH and subsequently, the release of ova during ovulation.

The distribution of hair on the phalanges of a sample population of Nigerian Yorubas in relation to sex, age and job type.

Five hundred adults aged between 18-35 years were used for the study. The aim of this study was to provide a reference document for Nigerians on the distribution of phalangeal hair using a sample population of Yorubas resident in Ilorin and to assess the effect of job type, age and sex hair distribution. With the help of a hand lens, the pattern and frequency of hair distribution on the proximal, intermediate and distal were randomly chosen from the population. Proximal phalangeal hair was absent in 10 (2%) individuals who were all males. The highest frequency distribution (51%) was found on the 2-3-4-5, digits of proximal phalanges (26% in males and 25% females) while the least (1%) was the 3-5; 1-2-3-5 digital pattern. It was observed that the frequency of middle phalangeal hair was low (1%). Females had less phalangeal hair. Hair was absent on the distal phalanges. Distribution is similar to other populations reported. Age was not a factor in the distribution but individual's job type and sex had effect on hair distribution. Hence people engaged in wet work should wear gloves.

Pattern of neurobehaviour in albino rats in the open field following oral artesunate administration.

The neurobehavioural patterns in the open field following oral artesunate administration was studied using 40 albino rats randomly assigned to three Groups, namely A, B and C. Prior to the test, all the animals were acclimatized for 5 minutes in the open field maze. Group A (8 males and 8 females) received therapeutic doses of artesunate (1.42 mg/kg per oral (p.o.)--using oro-gastric tubes while Group B (8 males and 8 females) received pharmacological doses of 4.26 mg/kg (p.o.). Group C served as the control and were administered only distilled water (p.o.). Gross behavioural changes were noted following the therapeutic and pharmacological administration of artesunate for five days. Rats in Groups A and B showed marked decrease in loco motor activity (line crossing) and exploratory (rearing and walling) activities in comparison with the control (P<0.05). The centre square activity was significantly decreased in Groups A and B in comparison with the control (P<0.01). The number of faecal boli and urine puddles did not change significantly in Groups A and B when compared with the control (P>0.05). However, the frequency of grooming was significantly lower in Groups A and B rats than in the control (P<0.01). The frequency and duration of freezing were significantly higher in Groups A and B rats than in the control rats (P<0.01). There were no significant differences between the values for the male and female rats. There was also no dose dependent effect of artesunate on the activities studied. Oral administration of artesunate significantly decreases loco motor and exploratory behaviours in the albino rat.

The frequency of benign prostate hypertrophy in Calabar.

The present study was to find out through histopathological records the most frequently occurring disease of the prostate from suspected prostate diseases in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. A total number of 324 cases of prostatic biopsies and autopsy materials recorded in the histopathology laboratory of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar between 1986 and 1995 were used for this study. Benign prostatic hypertrophy was observed as the major pathology among all the diseases of the prostate gland recorded in UCTH in Calabar having accounted for 76.3% (261 out of 342) while prostatic carcinoma accounted for 19% (65 out of 324), rest 4.7% (16 out of 342) were inflammatory lesions. The result indicated that benign prostatic hypertrophy occurs in men from 40 years and above. The frequency increased with age, reaching a maximum of 34.5% (90 out of 261) in the age group (70-79) years old. The people in Cross River State should be informed of the high frequency of benign prostatic hypertrophy and should be advised to seek health care promptly in suspected prostate related illness.

Effects of garcinia kola seed extract on ovulation, oestrous cycle and foetal development in cyclic female sprague-dawley rats.

The effects of Garcinia kola (G. kola) seed extract on oestrous cycle, ovulation and foetal development were studied in adult female Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats. Cyclic female rats weighing 150 to 200 g were divided into three experimental groups and a control group. Group 1 was fed with 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract on proestrous. Group 2 received 200 mg/kg body weight of the extract daily for six weeks, while group 3, consisted of pregnant rats which received the same dose of the extract on days 1-5, 7-9 (th), 13 (th), and 14 (th), day of gestation. In groups 1 and 2, vaginal lavage was taken daily to monitor the oestrous cycle and ovulation. In group 3, gestational parameters monitored were number of total implants, resorption and dead foetuses. Live foetuses were weighed and examined for external malformation and variation. The results showed that the oestrous cycle was altered for the first two weeks after commencement of extract but returned to normal from the third week. This was indicated by the irregular pattern of oestrous with a prolonged dioestrus observed in the treated rats. Ovulation was partially blocked as shown by the reduced number of ova observed in the oviduct from the treated rats compared with control [P < 0.05]. There was a significant decrease in the weight of foetuses from the treated rats [P < 0.05]; while foetuses from pregnant rats (7 %) which received treatment for the first five days of gestation, had malformed left upper limb. Results suggest that G. kola seed at 200 mg/kg body weight administered alters oestrous cycle in rats, partly inhibits ovulation and may produce duration dependent teratogenicity in foetal rats.