The aim of this study was to determine the haematological changes induced by subchronic glyphosate exposure in Wistar rats and the ameliorative effect of zinc. Sixty adult male and female Wistar rats were used for the study. Twelve of them were used for the LD 50 which was evaluated to be 3750 mg kg-1 with clinical signs of respiratory distress, diarrhoea, rough hair coat and subsequently death observed. The remaining 48 rats were divided into six groups of four males and four females each. The agent(s) administered are as follows: Group I (DW), control, distilled water (2 ml kg-1), group II (Z), zinc (50 mg kg-1), group III (G), glyphosate (375 mg kg-1 , 10 % of the LD 50), group IV (Z + G), zinc (50 mg kg-1) and glyphosate (375 mg kg-1) while group V (GC), glyphosate (14.4 mg kg-1) and group VI (Z + GC), zinc (50 mg kg-1) and glyphosate (14.4 mg kg-1). The treatment regimens were administered orally by gavage once daily for eight weeks. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected and analysed but there were no statistical different (p>0.05) among the treatment groups. However, the haematological parameters were relatively higher in the groups treated with glyphosate alone except the lymphocyte which was relatively low in the glyphosate treated groups compared to the control group. These changes were suggestive of haematological toxicity induced by oxidative stress caused by glyphosate exposure. In conclusion, the alterations in the haematological parameters such as packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, total white blood cell count, neutrophils and lymphocyte counts induced by subchronic glyphosate exposure were found to be differentially ameliorated by pre-treatment with zinc.

Traditional contraceptive practices and use of medicinal plants is a common occurrence in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Lawsonia inermis L. (Lythraceae) roots which is the most frequently used anti-fertility agent was evaluated in rats. Apparently healthy female and male Wistar rats were used. Pre-implantation and mating ratio, determinations of implantation sites and Corpora lutea were also conducted. The effects of extract on weight of the rats were also determined. There were loss of implantation sites and decrease in body weight. The number of implantation sites showed dose–response relationship significantly (p£0.05) among the doses of extract and to standard drug (ethinyl estradiol). There was also significant (p£0.05) difference observed in the number of Corpora lutea in all experimental and control groups. Similarly, there was significant (p£0.05) difference observed in all the experimental and control groups on percentage pre-implantation loss. The plant extract exhibit anti-fertility effects. The finding may explain the traditional use of the plant as antifertility agent.Keywords: Traditional Medicine, Contraception, Methanol Extract, L. inermis Root, Medicinal Plants

Protective effect of vitamin C on biochemical alterations induced by subchronic co-administration of chlorpyrifos and lead in Wistar rats.

This study was designed to investigate the effect of administration of combination of vitamin C + E and vitamin C alone on erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF), serum malondialdehde (MDA) and surface sialic acid (SSA) concentration in road transported rams. Twenty one (21) rams were used for the study. On the day of transportation, 7 rams (Group 1) were orally and individually administered with vitamin C (Juhel® Nigeria Ltd.) at the dose of 250 mg/kg dissolved in 10 ml of water and also vitamin E (100 mg DL-α-tocopherol) (Patterson Zoochonist Ltd. Nigeria) at the dose of 75 mg/kg, per os while another 7 rams (Group 2) was administered orally and individually with vitamin C (250 mg/kg) only. The 3rd group (7 rams) was the control, and they were administered orally and individually with only 10 ml of sterile water. The results indicated that the percentage haemolysis after 8 hours (duration of the journey) increased in the entire treatment group which was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the control group. On day 3 post-transportation, the obtained value was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the antioxidant treated group. The obtained MDA value of 2.13 ± 0.51 µmol in the first hour of the journey and 2.43 ± 0.22 µmol in the 8th hour was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the group 3 (control) than the values obtained in the treated groups. The values rose slightly in all groups 3-days post-transportation above pretransportation value which was not significantly (P > 0.05) different. There was progressive decline in the mean SSA concentrations in the control group with a value of 6.00 ± mg/ml at the end of the journey (8 h) which was not significantly (P > 0.05) different but had higher decrease of 17.43 % as against 4.52 % and 5.56 % in group 1 and 2 respectively. In conclusion the findings in this study have provided an insight into the role of erythrocyte SSA and ROS in explaining haemolysis associated with road transported ram and the possible ameliorat ive roles of Vitamins C and E on haemolysis.