Mineral content of foetal femur following administration of Bonny light crude oil to pregnant wistar rats. – O. E. Mesembe, A. O. Igiri,V. A. Fischer, C. Eliakim-Ikechukwu, R. Asuquo1 and E. U. Eyong
ABSTRACT
The mineral concentrations of foetal femur following administration of Nigerian Bonny light crude oil to pregnant wistar rats was investigated. Twenty adult virgin female wistar rats weighing between 190 and 200g were randomly divided into 2 groups (designated A and B) of 10 rats each. They were mated with males of the same strain. The presence of sperms (tailed structures) in the vaginal smears obtained in the following morning confirmed coitus and the sperm positive day was designated as day zero of pregnancy. Group B animals were gavaged 9mls/kg body weight of Bonny light crude oil gestation day 10-14. Group A animals served as control and were gavaged 9mls/kg body weight of distilled water on corresponding days. Pregnancy was terminated on the 20th day of gestation, the foetuses obtained by uterectomy and the foetal femur dissected out. On analysis, the mineral concentration of foetal femur of Group B animals (Cu: 3.89 ± 1.9; Mg: 8.17 ± 3.1; Ca: 68.64 ± 3.4; Mn: 1.29 ± 2.3) were significantly (p< 0.05) lower than those from control group (Cu: 7.98 ± 2.2; Mg: 13.28 ± 2.8; Ca: 89. 42 ± 3.2; Mn: 1.94 ± 1.8). The results indicated a possible interference with the normal mineralization and developmental process in the foetal bones following maternal ingestion of crude oil.