SOME EFFECTS OF ZINC ON MATERNAL AND FETAL INTERGRITY IN PREGNANCY
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 o...
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Published in | Nigerian journal of physiological sciences Vol. 21; no. 1-2 |
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Main Author | |
Format | Journal Article |
Published |
Nigeria
Physiological Society of Nigeria
25.04.2007
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | 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. |
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ISSN: | 0794-859X |