Investigation of the Haematological Indices of the First Generation of the Wistar Rats Fed with Calcium Carbide Ripened Orange

Abstract

Various chemicals have been consumed unnoticed by human in the advent of solving problems. The study is aimed at investigating the haematological indices of the first generation of the Wistar rat fed with Calcium Carbide induced ripened orange. Mature unripe oranges were plucked off from the Orange plant in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The fruits were divide into two groups, one group was kept and allowed to rip at normal room temperature and the other group was induced with Calcium Carbide to ripe. 10gram of calcium carbide was dissolved in 5ml of water in a closed metal bucket containing 1kg of the orange rapped with black nylon and was allowed for two days [48 hours] for ripening. After ripening, sampled fruits were washed and juiced. 600g of both the naturally ripened and calcium carbide ripened orange were peeled separately and blended in an electric blender with 350ml/1L of deionized water. The juice was filtered with a clean fine sieve and was poured into clean bottles labeled [CaC2 ripened orange juice and naturally ripened orange juice]; and was stored in a refrigerator for subsequent use. A total of 24 adult Wister rats [12 male and female of each sex] weighing between 126.9- 213.3g were used. They were kept in standard environmental condition, acclimatize for two [2] weeks and was fed with standard grower mash with clean water ad libitum. The rats were divided into three groups based on the body weight and then different concentrations of naturally ripened and calcium carbide induced ripened orange were administered orally. Group 1: Normal control group of 8 rats [4 males and 4 females] receive normal water and feeds only as placebo. Group 2: Treatment Group [1] of 8 rats [4 males and 4 females] received 5ml/kg of the naturally orange juice. Group 3: Treatment Group [2] of 8 rats [4 males and 4 females] received 5ml/kg of the Calcium Carbide ripped orange juice for 4 weeks. They were allowed to mate freely during the acclimatization and treatment period [One Month and two weeks]. The Wistar rats birthed and the pups of the three different groups were collected according to the treatment protocols. The Pups were weighed at birth, one week and two weeks and then sacrificed and blood samples were collected for haematological analysis. Results showed reduce Packed Cell Volume, Total White Blood Count, Hemoglobin, Red Blood Cell Count, Platelets, Lymphocytes, in the pups from the Calcium carbide treated Wistar rats (p>0.05). But there was an increase in Neutrophil, Monocytes and Eosinophil level of the pups from the Calcium carbide treated group. Calcium carbide has shown devastating effect on the haemtological parameters from the Pups of the Wistar rats fed with Calcium carbide. Blood cells production is impeded due its negative effect on hemapoietic stem cells, protection against foreign bodies is compromised due to low TWBC, resulting to tissue hypoxia, hemorrhage, and stunted growth and amongst other negative consequences; which are passed from parents to offspring as clearly exposed in this study.