Veterinary Archives, Vol. 90 No. 2, 2020.
Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.24099/vet.arhiv.0304
The influence of Ginkgo biloba on birth weight and histomorphometric characteristics of neonatal kidneys in albino rats
Amber Salman
; Department of Anatomy, The University Medical and Dental College, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Anas S. Qureshi
; Department of Anatomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Junaid A. Khan
; Institute of Pharmacy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Rehmat U. Shahid
; Department of Anatomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Farooq Azam
; Institute of Pharmacy, Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract administered during pregnancy on the fetal growth in terms of weight and renal histogenesis. Twenty-eight pregnant female albino rats were divided into four groups: A, B, C and D (n = 7). Ginkgo biloba was administered orally 3.5, 7 and 14 mg/kg/day to groups A, B, and C, respectively from the 8th to the 20th day of gestation. Group D served as the control group (no medicine was given). The pregnant females were weighed weekly and observed for any signs of toxicity during pregnancy. After parturition, various morphological features of neonates were measured. The neonates were euthanized and the kidneys collected. The length, width, weight, and the cortical and medullary thickness of the neonatal kidneys were recorded. Renal sections were prepared by the paraffin tissue technique followed by hematoxylin and eosin staining to observe tissue degenerative alterations. Data revealed that average weight gain was non-significant in dams, although a significant (P<0.01) weight reduction was witnessed in neonate weight. The weight of the neonatal kidneys showed a highly significant (P<0.01) increase in the treated group in comparison to the controls, in a dose- dependent manner. Interstitial edema, inflammation, tubular degenerations, and hemorrhages were observed in renal sections. This experimental data suggested that extensive use of Ginkgo biloba during the second and third trimester of pregnancy has a negative effect on renal genesis, however, no changes were recorded in maternal weight gain nor did it produce any noxious effect on the mothers’ health, thus, proving its safety to mothers during pregnancy, but deleterious effects on renal histogenesis.
Keywords
Ginkgo biloba; birth weight; renal genesis; herbal medicine; reproductive toxicity; organogenesis
Hrčak ID:
238611
URI
Publication date:
25.5.2020.
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