Mechanism of the delayed puberty onset in offspring of rats that consumed aqueous extract of hibiscus sabdariffa during pregnancy

Abstract

Summary: Consumption of extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa (family: malvaceae) during pregnancy has been shown to cause maternal malnutrition which has been linked to various adverse conditions like increased postnatal weight gain, delayed puberty onset and elevated body weight and body mass index at onset of puberty in the female offspring. The present study was designed to investigate the possible mechanism underlying this. Eighteen in-bred pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were on day 1 of pregnancy, randomly divided into three groups of six animals each. Group A (control) was given tap water to drink. Group B was given 0.6g extract/100ml while Group C was given 1.8g extract/100ml as their drinking solution. All groups received normal rat chow and their drinking solution ad libitum. Fluid and food intake and dam weights were measured daily throughout pregnancy. On gestational day 18, blood sample was withdrawn from each rat for estimation of plasma Na ion and corticosterone levels. On the day of delivery, the solutions of the extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa were withdrawn and replaced with tap water. After 21 days, the pups were weaned to tap water and food ad libitum. Pups weight and age and body mass index at onset of puberty were measured. The results of the present study showed that the increased postnatal weight gain, delayed puberty onset and elevated body mass index at onset of puberty in the offspring of rats that consumed HS during pregnancy was associated with elevated maternal plasma Na ion and corticosterone levels during pregnancy.

Histological Studies of the Heart and Biochemical Changes Due to the Perinatal Consumption of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Flavonoid-rich Extract) to Feed-restricted Rats on Offspring

“…The consumption of the extract of H. sabdariffa during lactation is rich in flavonoids (Zheng et al, 2016), further increasing the concentration of active glucocorticoids. This event explains the raised corticosterone level, as observed in the study by Iyare and Adegoke (2008), and may contribute to the lactation process and thus enhance nutrient delivery to the suckling neonates.…”

Effect of perinatal administration of flavonoid-rich extract from Hibiscus sabdariffa to feed-restricted rats, on offspring postnatal growth and reproductive development

“…A few studies in rats have shown that consumption of the extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa during pregnancy and lactation results in increased postnatal weight gain, delayed onset of puberty and elevated body mass index at onset of puberty, in female offspring [6][7][8][9]. Maternal and early life nutritional cues seem to "program" the developmental trajectory of a child by augmenting the timing of puberty onset for reproductive advantage in a predicted poor environment [10].…”

The Impact of Plasmodium Berghei Exposure In-utero on Neurobehavioral Profile in Mice

“…Recent studies thus suggest variables that interfere with the closely controlled In-utero environment may alter the normal nervous system developmental processes (Bilbo & Schwarz, 2009; Bale et al, 2010). Current hypothesis of early life programming buttresses the assumption that lots of developmental delay and ailments might have their source In-utero (Okojie et al, 2017; Iyare & Iyare 2006; Iyare & Adegoke 2008; Iyare & Iyare 2007; Bale et al, 2010).…”