search
for
 About Bioline  All Journals  Testimonials  Membership  News


Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences
Physiological Society of Nigeria
ISSN: 0794-859X
Vol. 21, No. 1-2, 2006, pp. 91-97
Bioline Code: np06017
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge

Nigerian Journal of Physiological Sciences, Vol. 21, No. 1-2, 2006, pp. 91-97

 en SOME EFFECTS OF ZINC ON MATERNAL AND FETAL INTERGRITY IN PREGNANCY.
A. A. BADRU, B. I. KUKOYI, and O. E. UKPONMWAN

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of zinc sulphate on the weights of pregnant rats, on the food and water consumption during gestation, litters weight at birth, the number of litters at birth and the accumulation of zinc in selected organs of the litters. Zinc sulphate in the dose of 1 mg/liter and 20mg/liter drinking water was administered to both pregnant and non-pregnant for the period of gestation. The results indicated a significant (p<0.005) increase in body weights of pregnant rats when compared with the corresponding controls (non-pregnant and zinc free rats). The values of food consumption in the pregnant rats during 1st, 2nd and 3rd week were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the value obtained for the non-pregnant and the control of non-pregnant rats. Pregnant rats administered with 20 mg/l of zinc drinking water showed a sharp decline in the food consumption from the 3rd week and this was continuous till the end of gestation. The quantity of water consumed by pregnant rats was significantly (p<0.005) higher than the control group (zinc free non-pregnant rats). Non-pregnant rats that received 1 mg/l of zinc drinking water significantly (p<0.005) consumed more water than those that received 20 mg/l zinc drinking water. There was no significant difference between maternal weights of the experimental and control rats at parturition. Rats administered with 1 mg/l zinc delivered the biggest litters-size, which was significantly (p<0.05) different from either those administered with 20mg/l of zinc drinking water or zinc free water respectively. The weights of the liver, thyroid, and pancreas from the litters were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those from the control rats. The liver was found to accumulate significant (p<0.05) higher concentration of zinc when compared with the control group.

Keywords
Pregnant rats, litters, and zinc supplement.

 
© Copyright 2006 - Physiological Society of Nigeria

Home Faq Resources Email Bioline
© Bioline International, 1989 - 2024, Site last up-dated on 01-Sep-2022.
Site created and maintained by the Reference Center on Environmental Information, CRIA, Brazil
System hosted by the Google Cloud Platform, GCP, Brazil