Calcium Carbide-Induced Haematological Alterations In The Albino Mice- Mus musculus

Abstract

Calcium carbide (CaC2), a chemical often misused by local fruit vendors in Nigeria to stimulate artificial ripening, was tested on mammalian model for possible haematological inductions. Thirty male albino mice (Mus musculus) of isogenic strains (age≈8weeks; weight=32.5±2.0g) were acclimatized for 2 weeks and fed standard growers mash and water ad libitum at ambient temperature≈28.0±1.0°C. They were subsequently exposed to graded CaC2-in-feed concentrations (w/w) of 2.5000, 1.2500, 0.6250, and 0.3125% in 4 cages, and a control. After 5 weeks, 3 animals from each cage were assayed and blood cell counts determined by microscopic procedures. The ANOVA, means plots, Student's t-test and variation plots were used to analyze data. The higher toxicant concentrations induced significantly lower body weights (F(829.899)˃Fcrit(4.19)) at p<0.05. Lower leucocytes and slightly higher lymphocytes were counted in dosed animals than control. The near absence of monocytes and complete absence of basophils indicate slight immunological inductions on the mammals.