The Effects of Palm wine on the Morphometry and Femur Histology of Wistar Rat Foetuses

Abstract

Background: Palm-wine as an alcoholic beverage plays an important role in the social life of many people in Nigeria especially those in the southern part of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible teratogenic effects of palm wine on wistar rat foetuses. Methodology: Female rats were caged with mature male rats overnight and upon confirmation of coitus the following morning, the female rats were divided into three groups of five rats each. Fermented palm wine, with an estimated alcohol content of 4.6%, was administered via oro-gastric tube to these pregnant rats at different stages of gestation. Group II received 6 ml/day from day 6-12; group III received 6 ml/day from day 13-19; and group I (control) received water. On day 20, all female rats were sacrificed and fetuses removed, counted, weighed and examined. Their femora bones were processed for H & E sections. Results: Gross examination of fetuses collected on the 20th day of gestation showed significant reduction of mean tail length, crown-rump length and body weight in the palm wine-treated groups relative to control. Histological examination of the femora from the treated groups showed significant shrinkage and distortion of cells and disintegration of the growth plate. These features were more in the sections of animals that received palm wine during the early stages of pregnancy. Conclusion: Palm wine from this study was concluded to be teratogenic.

Key Words Palm_wine, Teratogenic, Morphometry, Femur, Histology, Wistar rats.