Prenatal exposure of bonny light crude oil induces embryotoxicity, impaired cognitive functions and cortico-hippocampal neurodegeneration on fetal outcomes of pregnant sprague-dawley rats
Date
2021
Authors
Gbotolorun, S.C.
Ezeife, C.C.
Ogunlade, B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
The low Sulfur level, heavy metals and easy production rate of Bonny Light Crude Oil (BLCO) makes it
one of Nigeria’s most explored oil. This study investigated the memory impairments, embryotoxicity
and cortico-hippocampal neurodegeneration induced by prenatal exposure to BLCO of pregnant
Sprague-Dawley (S-D) rats. Twenty pregnant rats were divided into 4 groups (A-D) of 5 rats each.
Group A received normal saline as placebo. Group B-D received oral doses of BLCO at 0.73 ml/kg, 2 ml/
kg and 3.8 ml/kg on pregnancy day 8–12.5 respectively. The pregnant rats were allowed to litter and
nurse their pups. At 6 weeks postnatal life, twelve (12) selected young rats (n ¼ 12) were accessed for
behavioral study (Y-maze) and then sacrificed for biochemical and histological analysis. The results
showed spontaneous abortion, still births and significantly reduced number of live births in the high
dose group of BLCO compared to control. Length of gestation was significantly increased in the high
dose group when compared to the control. CAT levels reduced significantly with concomitant increase
in 8-OHdG among BLCO treated groups compared to control. Spontaneous alteration and number of
arm entries decreased in the BLCO groups in comparison to control. Histological observation showed
reduced cellular size, chromatolysis and presence of extracellular senile plaques in the prefrontal cortex
and mild histological changes in the hippocampus architecture in the BLCO treated groups compared
to the control. BLCO is capable of inducing embryotoxicity, impair cognition and cortico-hippocampal
neurodegeneration.
Description
Scholarly articles
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE , Bonny light crude oil , Fetal outcome , Oxidative stress , Prefrontal cortex
Citation
Gbotolorun SC, Ezeife CC, Ogunlade B. Prenatal exposure of bonny light crude oil induces embryotoxicity, impaired cognitive functions and cortico-hippocampal neurodegeneration on fetal outcomes of pregnant sprague-dawley rats. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2021 Mar 15:1-8.