Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Naiho, A.O., Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Aloamaka, C.P., Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Ekhoye, E.I., Department of Physiology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
Most rural communities of the Niger Delta rely on river water for drinking, but due to numerous oil spillages, these rivers have become polluted with crude oil. This research was designed to determine the possible effect of crude oil on reproduction in Wistar rats. A total of fifty virgin Wistar rats weighing on the average 185g were involved in this experiment and were divided into five groups(A,B,C,D and E), each having ten rats made up of five males and five females. In each group male and female rats were housed separately. In group A, the male rats were treated with 60mg/kg/day of crude oil dissolved in drinking water after and normal rat chow ad libitum, the female rats received tap water and rat chow ad libitum. In group B, the female rats were treated with 60mg/kg/day of crude oil dissolved in drinking water and normal rat chow ad libitum, the male rats received tap water and rat chow ad libitum. In group C, the male rats received crude oil contaminated as drinking water and were normal rat chow ad libitum, the female rats received tap water and rat chow ad libitum. In group D, the female rats received crude oil contaminated as drinking water and normal rat chow ad libitum, the male rats received tap water and rat chow ad libitum. Group E served as control and were fed normal rat chow and water ad libitum. Treatment lasted for seven weeks after which the rasts were allowed to mate, the female rats were examined in the morning for sperm plugs and this was used to determine the first day of pregnancy. After mating the male rats were sacrificed semen analysis was done and testes was harvested for histology, while female rats were maintained with tap water and rat chow throughout the period of pregnancy after which the liter size and liter weight, the gestation period and number of surviving pups after one week were noted the female rats were then sacrifice and ovaries harvested for histology. Data obtained was analyzed using the student's t test and ANOVA. Result showed significant (p<0.05) reduction in sperm count and motility of treated groups. There was also significant (p<0.05) reduction in liter size, liter weight and percentage pup loss in treated groups. Histological findings revealed distortions in the architecture of the testes and ovaries of treated rats. We conclude therefore that crude oil adversely affected reproduction in wistar rats.
drinking water; petroleum; tap water; animal experiment; animal food; animal model; animal tissue; article; controlled study; female; female fertility; gestational age; male; male fertility; mating; nonhuman; rat; reproductive toxicity; semen analysis; spermatozoon count; spermatozoon motility; survival time; water contamination
