Abstract

HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF CALABASH CHALK ON THE CEREBELLUM OF FOETAL WISTAR RATS

Godson Kelechi Peace*, Onyewuchi Michael and Ohanenye Chioma

ABSTRACT

Calabash chalk (CC) is consumed mostly by pregnant women in the tropics to reduce salivation and by some other persons for pleasure. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of CC on the cerebellum of foetal wistar rats. Thirty (30) female and ten (10) male rats weighing 150-230g were used for this study. Following vaginal smear, they were mated at proestrous with the males. The day after mating was designated as day 0 of gestation. The pregnant rats were randomly divided into five groups (Control, All trimester, 1st trimester, 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester) of six each and were given 0.5ml aqueous solution of CC containing 40mg/ml for different days during their gestation period except the control group which were given 0.5ml of distilled water. The all trimester group were given the aqueous solution throughout their gestation period, 1st trimester 1-6 days, 2nd trimester 7-12 days and 3rd trimester 13-18 days. On gestational day 20, the rats in all the groups were sacrificed, the fetuses were harvested and weighed before they were sacrificed. The brains of the fetuses were weighed and kept in different fixatives (10% formol calcium, 2% sucrose and Bouin’s fluid) in separate specimen bottles for tissue processing. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) that existed in the body weight between control and experimental groups. Histological analysis of the foetal cerebellum using Haematoxylin and eosin, Cresyl Fast Violet and Feulgen staining techniques showed changes in the cytoarchitecture of the cerebellar layers and hyperplasia of the granule cells in the experimental groups. CC causes histomorphological and cellular density change in the cerebellum of foetal wistar rats which can lead to cerebellar dysfunction such as inability to maintain equilibrium or clumsy movement.

Keywords: Calabash chalk; Cerebellum; Haematoxylin and eosin; Cresyl fast violet and Feulgen.