Some toxicological studies on croton oil in white rats

Eighty albino rats of both sexes were used in this study and divided into 4 equal groups. The first 3 groups were injected I/P with croton oil in a dose of 0.50 and 1.00 mg/k gm B. Wt. respectively while the 4th group was kept as control and injected 0.5 ml tween-80 I/P. Results revealed that R.B.Cs. count, HB% and PCV were decreased while W.B.Cs count were increased significantly. Differential leucocytic counts were significantly decreased in lymphocytes and significantly increased in neutrophils and monocytes while eosinophils were slightly increased but basophils were not affected. Levels of GOT, GPT and AP were significantly increased while T.P. albumin and globulin were significantly decreased in serum of toxicated rats. Urea and creatinine were decreased but potassium was increased in comparison to control group. Calcium and phosphorous levels were slightly changed in serum of treated rats. Microscopically the liver was congested with mononuclear aggregation and the hepatocyte suffered from degenerative changes. The kidney showed haemorrahages with haemosidrosis, mononuclear cell infilteration, congestive blood vessels with fibrinoid necrosis of their wall, the tubules showed degenerative changes and hyaline cast. The lung suffered from congetion with emphysema. The heart revealed haemorrahages with some hyalinization. The brain lesion was extravasated R.B.Cs. in meninges. Testicels showed few oedema in the intertubular spaces

Effect of cadmium on growth in white rats

A total of 80 albino rats were divided into 4 equal groups. The first 20 rats were kept as control and the other three groups were dosed orally by 0.143, 0.561 and 2.00 mg/kg B.wt. respectively for 8 succesive weeks. The results revealed decrease in body weight in a dose dependant manner. Also the length, thickness of femur and thickness of diaphesis decreased in the same way while diameter decrease occured in the third group only. Calcium content of bone showed a decrease in the three doses levels while phosphorus revealed such effect in groups [1] and [2]. Calcium revealed a decrease in serum and increased level in urine meanwhile the phosphorus showed increase in both serum and urine

Effects of ektafos, ratak and agrosan on pregnancy and fetal development in white rats

The teratogenicand other effects on pregnancy of EKTAFOS, agrosan and Ratak were studied. Four groups, each composed of 20 pregnant female white rats between the 10[th] to 19[th] day of gestation were used for revealing the dysmorphogenic effects of these preparations. Ektafos at a dose of 1 .95 mg/kg, body weight daily per os caused 25.2% resorption and 22.1% mortality and the average weight of the foetuses was 1.2 +/- 0.02 gm and their average length 2.1 +/- 0.09 cm. Agrosan at a dose of 100 mg/ 50 mg barley seeds daily caused 21% resorption sites and 18.9% mortality. The averages weight of the foeti was 1.9 +/- 0.02 gm and their average length 2.3 +/- 0.08 cm. Ratak at a dose of 0.9 mg/kg. daily mixed with 50 gm barley seeds caused 31% resorption and 33% mortality. The average weight of the foetuses was 1.4 +/- 0.03 gm and their average length was 2.3 +/- 0.06 cm. These values are significant different from the 12.34% resorption, 11 .5% mortality. Foetal weight of 3 .1 +/- 0.86 gm and foetal length of 4 .0 +/- 0 09 cm for the control group. Visceral examination of the foeti revealed no significant abnormalities compared with those of the control rats. Skeletal examination of the foetuses affected by Ektafos showed "incomplete fusion of the creanium [17.58%]. The incidence of vertebral column changes which included absence of one or more of the coccygeal vertebrae with separation of the wings of the atlas vertebrae was 15%. A reduced number of sternebrae was noted in 15.38% of the foetuses. Absence of some metacarpal, metatarsal and phalanges in the limbs was obtained in 7.67% of the foetuses. Foetuses from Agrosan treated dams showed malformations in the skull, vertebral column, ribs, sternebrae and limbs, their incidence being 15.53, 19.4, 13.59 and 18.53% respectively. Ratak affected rats showed no signs of skeletal malformations