Joseph Olajide Hambolu

Influence of co-administration of vitamins A and E on diurnal variation in rectal temperature of Black Harco pullets during the hot-dry season

Experiments were performed with the aim of determining the influence of vitamins A and E on the fluctuations in rectal temperature (RT) of Black Harco pullets during the hot-dry season. The RT of 29 experimental and 20 control pullets were measured every hour from 06:00 to 19:00 hours for three days. The experimental pullets were administered vitamins A and E orally at 1200 IU/kg and 30 mg/kg, respectively. The control pullets were given water only. The lowest hourly RT of 41.03 ± 0.03°C was obtained in experimental pullets at 06:00 h, while the highest value of 41.23 ± 0.04°C was recorded at 18:00 h (P < 0.001). In control pullets, the RT rose significantly from 41.00 ± 0.04°C at 06:00 h to a maximum value of 41.61 ± 0.04°C at 15:00 h (P < 0.001). It is concluded that vitamins A and E decreased the thermally stressful effect of the hot-dry season, and may enhance the productivity and health of pullets during the season.

EFFECTS OF ALUMINIUM CHLORIDE EXPOSURE ON THE HISTOLOGY OF THE LIVER OF ADULT WISTAR RATS

Aluminium is presents in many manufactured foods, medicines and is also added to drinking water for purification purposes. It presence has so heavily contaminated the environment that exposure to it is virtually inescapable. The liver is the largest gland of the body that processes blood and breaks down nutrients, drugs into forms that are easier to use for the rest of the body. This study was aimed at evaluating the possible effects that aluminium chloride exposure could have on the histology of the liver. Ten wistar rats were used and were divided into five groups; group I was the control, group II received 475mg kg -1 , group III received 950mgkg -1 , group IV received 1,425mg kg -1 and group V received 1,900mg kg -1 via oral intubation for duration of eight weeks. The liver tissues was fixed, processed, stained in H&E and slides viewed under light microscope. Our observations showed that aluminium chloride exposure was detrimental to the liver of wistar rats, as indicated by congested central vein and distorted sinusoids.

Nuclear Architecture in the Medulla Oblongata of the Adult African Giant Pouched Rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse - 1840)

Se estudio mediante microscopia de luz la arquitectura de los nucleos de los nervios craneales y no craneales en la medula oblonga de la rata gigante de carillos africana. Secciones seriales de la medula oblonga, en los planos coronal y sagital, se tineron con violeta de cresil rapida y tincion de plata, respectivamente. Como guias se utilizaron secciones en el plano sagital, mientras que, secciones coronales se utilizaron para identificar los nucleos en la extension rostrocaudal de la medula oblonga. Fueron delineados, con el obex que actua como punto de referencia, los nucleos rostral y caudal a este. Los nucleos de los nervios craneales cuya arquitectura se definio fueron los nucleos: motor del nervio hipogloso, motor del nervio vago, coclear, vestibulares y ambiguo, mientras que los nucleos de los nervios craneales no identificados fueron: olivar, del tracto solitario, gracil, cuneiforme, espinal del nervio trigemino, motor del cuerpo trapezoide, lateral de la formacion reticular y gigantocelular. El nucleo olivar fue el mas importante, mientras que el nucleo del tracto solitario fue tenue, y por lo tanto, menos desarrollado. Las longitud rostrocaudal de los nucleos del tracto solitario, olivar y motor del nervio hipogloso fueron 3,81 mm, 2,36 mm y 3,50 mm, respectivamente. El nucleo prominente olivar, el tracto piramidal y el nucleo vestibular fueron indicativos de una buena coordinacion motora y equilibrio, mientras que el escaso desarrollo de los puntos del nucleo del tracto solitario indican una menor eficiencia de las funciones autonomicas en este roedor. El presente estudio servira para conducir futuros estudios sobre el neuro-comportamiento necesario para una efectiva domesticacion y adaptacion de la rata gigante de carillos africana adulta.