Abstract
Ameliorative effect of Withania somnifera against Imidacloprid Induced Alterations in Oestrous Cycle of Female Albino Wistar Rats
Department of Veterinary Pathology, 1Departmentof Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2Departmentof Avian nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, P. V. Narasimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad, Telangana 500030, India
Correspondence Address:
S. Soujanya, Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, P. V. Narasimha Rao Telangana Veterinary University, Hyderabad, Telangana 500030, India, E-mail: sonurv36@gmail.com
The present experiment was aimed to assess imidacloprid induced alterations in oestrous cycle and ameliorative effects of Withania somnifera in rats. 48 female albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups of 12 animals each. Group 1 is control, group 2 is imidacloprid (30 mg/kg body weight/d), group 3 is Withania somnifera (1 g/kg feed) and group 4 is imidacloprid+Withania somnifera (30 mg/kg body weight/ d+1 g/kg feed). The test chemical was administered daily by oral gavage for 30 d. Seven consecutive estrous cycles were monitored in all the four groups by vaginal smear test. From each group, 6 rats were sacrificed on 16th d and remaining were sacrificed on 31st d. Blood samples were collected before sacrifice on 16th and 31st d of experiment for estimation of hormones in serum. A significant increase in length of oestrous cycle, follicle stimulating hormone levels and decrease in oestrogen levels were noticed in group 2. It is concluded that administration of Withania somnifera provided moderate protection against the imidacloprid induced toxicity by regularization of oestrous cycle in rats due to its antioxidant and gonadotropic properties.
