Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Uyo, #1 Ikpa Road, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria
  • 2 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Etta-Agbo Road, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria
  • 3 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Etta-Agbo Road, P.M.B. 1115, Calabar, Nigeria
Malays J Med Sci, 2015 12 31;22(4):17-22.
PMID: 26715904

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Calabash chalk, a kaolin-base substance is a common geophagic material mostly consumed by pregnant women. This study investigated its effect on the histomorphology of the foetal cerebral cortex.

METHODS: Twelve gestating Wistar rats were divided equally into groups 1 and 2. On pregnancy day seven (PD7), group 2 animals were administered 200 mg/kg body weight of calabash chalk suspension, while group 1 animals served as the control and received 1 ml of distilled water, by oral gavages and for 14 days (PD7-PD20). On PD21, the dams were sacrificed, and the foetuses removed, examined for gross malformations, weighed and culled to two foetuses per mother. Their whole brains were excised, weighed and preserved using 10% buffered formalin, and routinely processed by haematoxylin and eosin, and Luxol fast blue methods.

RESULTS: The foetuses showed no morphological change, but their mean body weights was higher (p=0.0001). Histomorphological sections of the cerebral cortex showed hypertrophy and hyperplasia of cells in all the cortical layers, with less demonstrated Nissl and higher (p=0.001) cellular population compared with the control group.

CONCLUSION: Calabash chalk cause body weight increase and histomorphological changes in the cerebral cortex of foetuses.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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