Abortifacient properties of aqueous extract of Carica papaya (Linn) seeds on female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Experiments were conducted to investigate the abortifacient potential of aqueous extract of Carica papaya (Linn) seeds in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Oral doses of 100 and 800 mg/kg body weight were administered once a day on days 1-10 post-coitum. No significant differences in total body weight were found in foetuses exposed to these regimes. However, in the group treated with 100 mg/kg body weight, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the implantation sites and foetal weight was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) compared to the controls. No dead or malformed foetuses were found. However, in the group treated with 800 mg/kg body weight, there was obvious vaginal bleeding but no treatment related increase in implantation sites compared with control. There was however, complete resorption of about 30% of the foetuses. The surviving foetuses were stunted when compared with the control but were without any external malformations. The results of the present investigations lead to the clear conclusion that low dose aqueous crude extract of Carica papaya (Linn) seeds does not adversely affect prenatal development. The altered toxicological profile indicates that the abortifacient property is a high dose side effect. The results indicate that Carica papaya toxicity can adversely affect the foetus.

The effect of the cyclooxygenase blockers, ibuprofen on the development of glomeruli in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Cyclo-oxygenase mediated prostaglandins are important determinants of glomerular development and kidney function. Ibuprofen inhibit the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase and thereby block the prostaglandin synthesis in the kidneys. Cyclo-oxygenase exist in two iso-forms (COX-1 and COX-2). It has ben proposed that Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with preferential COX-2 selectivity have fewer renal side effects than drugs with preferential COX-1 selectivity. The significance of this remains unclear since nephrotoxicity is relatively uncommon with ibuprofen and, when present is usually rapidly reversible although, ibuprofen has a higher potency against COX-1 than COX-2. We therefore investigated the effect of ibuprofen on glomerulogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rats. Ibuprofen (22 mg/kg/day) was administered orally from day 10 of gestation to day 15 after parturition. Light microscopic examination of ibuprofen-treated neonatal kidneys show hypoplastic glomeruli. These results suggest that low dose ibuprofen is deleterious to glomerular development.

The effect of ethanol on spermatogenesis and fertility in male Sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with acetylsalicylic acid.

Prenatal alcohol is associated with a variety of developmental abnormalies, including neuroanatomical, physical and behavioural features. This study was designed to determine the effects of administration of alcohol, exemplified mostly by ethanol (15 ml/kg, 25%, v/v) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 15 mg/kg) as a representative of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, individually and their combination (ethanol 15 ml/kg, 25%, v/v ASA 15 mg/kg) on semen quality and fertility after paternal intraperitoneal administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. In the combination study, the rats received ASA about 1 hour before ethanol administration. The combination experiments were conducted to determine if the effects of ethanol can be prevented by pre-treatment with acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) which has been reported to antagonise the rate-depressant effects of ethanol. All animals received this treatment for ten weeks. Semen parameters were determined and compared with controls. The result showed that when given alone, ethanol significantly reduced the sperm density and percentage of motile spermatozoa relative to controls. Pre-treatment with ASA failed to stop the decrease in sperm density and percentage motility caused by ethanol. Moreover none of the experimental male rats was able to fertilize the females exposed to them despite successful mating demonstrated by the presence of sperm plug. The present study demonstrates that chronic consumption of ethanol or ingestion of ASA has toxic effect on spermatozoa and impairs fertility in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Moreover, pre-treatment with ASA has no effect on the deleterious effects caused by ethanol.

X-ray pelvimetry and labour outcome in term pregnancy in a rural Nigerian population.

BACKGROUND: X-ray pelvimetry is a radiological investigation that involves the measurement of different anthropometric dimensions of the pelvis. The pelvic inlet and outlet play important role in labour outcome. The query as to whether x-ray pelvimetry has a useful predictive value regarding labour outcome prompted this study. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the use of X-ray pelvimetry is still relevant in term pregnancy, and its reliability in predicting labour outcome. METHOD: This was a retrospective study of pregnant patients who had X-ray pelvimetry at term and successfully delivered at a rural community based mission maternity hospital between 2005-2008. Each x- ray pelvimetry report was matched with the mode of delivery of the patient. 150 patients who were found suitable had data such as age, mode of delivery, etc, extracted. RESULTS: In a review of 150 X -ray pelvimetry films, 119 (79.33%) were categorised as adequate pelvis, 10(6.67%) borderline pelvis and 21 (14%) inadequate pelvis respectively based on the conclusions of the radiologist. Out of the 21 patients with inadequate pelvis, 14 (67%) had normal delivery and 7 (33%) had caesarean section. For the 10 patients with borderline pelvis, 7 (67%) had normal delivery and 3 (33%) had caesarean section. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that X-ray pelvimetry may not be accurate but has fair predictive value on mode of delivery in term pregnancy.

Interpupillary and internipple distances and ear lengths in Nigerian newborns.

Two hundred and seventy-eight Nigerian, singleton full term neonates were investigated for interpupillary and internipple distances and ear length. The values were compared with standards derived from an American population. The study showed that the Nigerian neonate is hyperteloric, has a short ear, more closely spaced nipples and a lower ratio of internipple distance to chest circumference relative to the American neonate. It was concluded that local reference standards are needed before these anthropometric parameters can be safely used in the diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation and dysmorphic states.